
Oass. 



\ i '\ 



Book_/^^'B> 



NOTES 



^htott) of /art (3c0v^e, 



Bv B. F DeCOSTA. 



9 



NOTES "^^.^ 



^tslorj) of ifort George. 



Jk 



L 






.^* J^i^>- ^tli 



jU iii. r i l i .i- i , , r ■ 







NOTES 



^hi0V\) of /urt ^eovQc 



DURING THE 



COLONIAL AND REVOLUTIONARY PERIODS, 
With Contemporaneous Documents 



AND AN APPENDIX. 






By B. F; DeCOSTA, 

AUTHOR OF "lake GEORGE: ITS SCENES AND CHARACTERISTICS," AC, &C. 



Embosomed amid its green hills . . . and alone in its picturesque beauty, spreads, sparkling to 
the day, the picturesque Lake George, with its hundred islands and their silent woods. Here, 
exhaustless as those pure waters, the poet, the novelist, the sober historian, or the excursive dram- 
atist, may find by the cottage fire»ide, materials for their respective purposes. — Bryant. 



J. SABIN & SONS, 84 NASSAU STREET. 

LONDON: zz BUCKINGHAM STREET. 
187I. 



.L-t 



"^U. 



'^^ ; 




PREFACE. 

HE fragments embodied in the following sketch were, 
for the greater part, accumulated by the writer while 
engaged in preparing a popular work on Lake George. 
They are now given in a separate and permanent 
form, not as constituting anything like a complete history, but rather 
as interesting materials affording some fresh illustration of the annals 
of one of the most beautiful and celebrated localities in our land. 

These'gleanings have come from every source accessible to the com- 
piler, and include nearly everything of interest that he has found in con- 
nection with the history of Fort George. Many of the documents thus 
embodied appear in print for the first time, being transcripts from the 
original MSS. It will be a subject of gratulation if this publication 
stimulates fresh, and successful, search for additional material. 

Nbw York, 1871. 




NOTES 



^t0torg of Jfort George. 



CHAPTER I. 




3 N THE EARLY TIMES, the waters of Lake 
George owed their importance to the fact that 
they formed a part of a great route of communica- 
tion between New York and Montreal. In pur- 
suing this route, the traveller could pass nearly 
the whole distance between these two points in 
boats and canoes. Hence the many struggles of 
the French and English, and, later, the English 

and the Americans, for the possession of this route.* 

Born of the clouds, and cradled among the overhanging hills. Lake 

George sleeps almost as tranquil as a sea of glass, the ideal of loveliness 

* To help out a theory, it has been stated that the route by Lake St. Sacrament was the ex- 
clusive route in early times. The truth, however, appears from the following: "The Route 
from Montreal to Albany is begun by ferrying over to la Praire, and thence a Land Carriage, 
over low, wet Ground, fifteen Miles to St. Jean. From this Fort, which is truly but a Maga- 
zine, they go in a Schooner to Crown Point, a very considerable Fortress, at the Head of Lake 
Champlain, and the Mouth of Wood Creek. Two Ways lead from hence towards Hudson's 
River; the one by Lake St. Sacrament, in which there is a Mile Portage, in the Streight be- 
tween the Lake and Wood Creek. 'Tis very dangerous passing this Lake at the Change of 
Weather, by Reason of the great Waves arising without much Wind, and the inaccessible Cliffs 
of vast high Mountains on the East Side. At the Head, the Lake divides into two Bays, from 
the Eastermost of which is a Portage twelve Miles, or more, to Hudson's River. And from 
this Portage to Albany, you go down Hudson's River, without any other Interruption than two 
little Portages of about Haifa Mile each. The other Way from Crown Point towards Hudson's 
River, is altogether by Wood Creek, and you are only interrupted with a Portage of a Stone's 
Throw or two in Length, at a Place called Kingiaguaghtenec. The Portage from Wood to 
Hudson's River is twelve Miles also; and the Passage thence to Albany is by the same River, 
and with the same Interruption. The whole performed in five or six Days." — Lewis Evans' 
" Essays," etc., pp. 19. 



2 NOTES ON THE 

and peace. First seen and named by a white man in 1646,* it retained its 
original appropriate appellation — Lake St. Sacramentf — until 1755, when 
it witnessed the first pitched battle, and, through the victory of the Eng- 
lish, lost the only name worthy of its beauty and renown. Previous to 
this year, however. General Johnson had visited the lake. In 1746, 
just one hundred years after its discovery by Jogues, he went thither 
with various Indian tribes, who put up their symbols, or totems^ to 
"alarm the French;" still no action took place. 

But, in 1755, the bold aggressions of the French had caused much 
apprehension, and the home government, in connection with tlie col- 
onists, resolved to force the intruders from the advanced positions every* 
where assumed, and especially from Ticonderoga, at which place they 
had established a fortress and planted the French flag. An army was 
accordingly assembled, under General William JohnSon, at the head, or 
south end of Lake George ; but before he could move against Ticon- 
deroga and Crown Point, the PVench, led by General Dieskau, on the 
28th of August, attacked him in his camp, when Johnson fought the 
Battle of Lake George, and, by the aid of skillful officers, gained his 
well-known victory, for which he was knighted, finding, at the same 
time, great popularity among all the people.^ The story of this battle 
has so often been told, that it is only necessary, for our present purpose, 
to observe that, at the close of this memorable summer day, the French, 
near Bloody Pond, received the last blow at the hands of the English, 
and fled in confusion to Ticonderoga. § 

* May 29, 1646, Isaac Jogues, S. J. and Jean Bourdon, the engineer, were on their way from 
Montreal to the Mohawk region to perfect a treaty with the Indians; and on the eve of this 
day, the festival of Corpus CAristi, tliey reached the lake, and named it " Lake of the Blessed 
Sacrament" {Lac du St. Sacrement). 

t Poets and others fable that the name was given in commemoration of the purity of its 
water, yet the Jesuit is particular to state that it was in honor of the festival. See "Relations 
des Jesuites," 1646, p. 15. It may also be noticed here that Champlain, in 1609, saw the falls 
at the outlet of the lake, but there is nothing to indicate that he ever saw the lake itself; he 
knew it only through the accounts of the Indians. That Jogues saw the lake prior to 1646 is 
a mere fancy, unsupported by due evidence. 

t The credit of this victory, nevertheless, belonged to Gen. Wyman, who assumed com- 
mand early in the day, when Johnson was wounded and carried from the field. 

I The following is an additional item of interest recently contributed to the history of this 
battle: "Our Cannon (which under God it appears to me) saved us were heard down as low as 
near Saratoga, notwithstanding the wind was in the south, & sumethmg considerable, & which 
by the way was a great disadvantage to our troops, as the smoke was drove in our faces. The 
wounded was brought in very fast, & it was with the utmost difficulty that their wounds could 
be dressed fast enough, even in the most superficial manner, having in about three hours neat 
fort^ men to be dressed, & Dr. Pvnchon, his mate & Billy (one of his students) & myself were all 
to do it, my mate being at Fort Lyman attending upon divers sick men there. The bullets flevir 
like hail-stones about our ears all the time of dressing, as we had not a place prepared of safety, 
to dress in the wounded in, but through God's goodness we received no hurt any more than the 
bark of the trees & chips flying in our faces by accidental shots, which were something frequent. 
Our Tent was shot through in diver places, which we thought best to leave and retire a few rods 
behind a shelter of a log house, which so loose laid as to let the balls through very often. 
I have not time to give a list of the dead which are many, by reason I have not time to attend 
the wounded as they ought to be." — The Campaigns against Crown Point in 1755 and 1756, 
Correspondence of Dr. Thos. Williams. " Historical Magazine," New Series, Vol. vii, No. 
iv, April, 1870. 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. ^ 

Nevertheless, General Johnson failed to follow up his advantage, and 
interested himself with building a fort on the bank of the lake. This 
fort he named "Fort William Henry,"* and, at the same time, he 
caused the name of the lake to be changed to Lake George,f in honor 
of the reigning sovereign ot England. 

Having finished the fort. General Johnson retired, leaving a small 
garrison to hold the place. Quite a number of old powder-horns are still 
in existence, which show, in their rude carvings (the work of soldiers 
during idle hours), the plan and appearance of the fort, which, in the 
official reports, is depicted with scientific accuracy. 

From the inquiry into the military conduct of General Shirley, then 
having the general command of the British forces in America, we learn 
that, on Nov. 4, 1 755, he was at Albany, devising a winter expedition 
against Ticonderoga and Crown Point; but nothing was done, for the 
reason, it is averred, that the ice was too thin. (" Inquiry," p. 53). 

On following year, the weak and inefficient Earl of Loudon assumed 
the military command in North America, but nothing was eventually 
done, and the time was filled up with inconclusive skirmishes around 
the lake between the French and English scouts. In the same way the 
winter was passed; yet, in the sprmg of 1757, the French became 
more demonstrative, and, on the night of March i8th, led by Rigaud, 
they attempted to surprise the fort, but failed. With the advent of 
summer, however, the gallant Montcalm was afield, and, by August 3d, 
he had invested Fort William Henry, which was surrendered by the 
commander, Colonel Monroe, after a siege of six days, an event that 
might have been averted but for the dastardly conduct of Webb, the 
commander of Fort Edward. At this time occurred the well-known 
massacre of the English, the details of which event, though sufficiently 
shocking of themselves, have, nevertheless, been made the subject of 
wild exaggeration by prejudiced historical writers. 

When Montcalm once more retired to the North, he left Fort Wil- 
liam Henry a heap of smoldering ruins, which were never afterwards 
disturbed, as the site possessed no real advantages. 

The French had now fully revenged the defeat of 1755, and were in 
confident possession of Ticonderoga. Accordingly, the next summer, the 
English moved again to dispossess them. Led by the ill-starred Aber- 
crombie, they embarked on the lake in beautiful order, from the docks 
near the charred remains of Fort William Henry, and, sixteen thou- 

* The remains of this fort may still be seen in front of the well-known "Fort William Henry 
Hotel," Caldwell. In the " Paris Documents,'' the French speak of this Fort as "Fort George," 
though it never was so called by the English. See " N. Y. Coll. Doc," Vol. x, p. 596. 

■j- Cooper, in one of his novels, teaches that the Indian name of the lake was " Horicon,"— 
Sil-very IVater — which, of course, is not the case. Parkman says : "I have seen an old Latin 
map on which the name 'Horicini' is set down as belonging to a neighboring tribe. This 
appears to be only a misprint for * Horoconi,' that is 'Irocor;!,' or • Iroquois.' In an old Eng- 
lish map, prefixed to the rare work, 'A Treatise of New England,' the 'Lake of the Hierocoyes 
is laid down.'" — "Jesuits in America," p. 219/1. I may add, that an old Dutch map puts the 
country of the " Horikons" near Cape Cod. 



. NOTES ON THE 

sand strong, confidently moved to assault the French. But, after the 
display of a peerless valor before the walls of Ticonderoga, on July 7th 
the army was forced to retreat in haste to the south end of the lake, 
leaving behind a large number of dead and wounded. On Sunday 
evening, July 9th, the troops landed at Fort William Henry, broken 
and disheartened. 

On his return to the head of the lake, Abercrombie began to send 
cannon and ammunition to Albany, and, at the same time, occu- 
pied his troops -n the construction of' intrenchments, as stated by the 
French and other authorities; but the extent and character of these 
works do not appear to be known.* 

The following year a new English army was raised, and placed under 
the direction of General Amherst. f This commander resolved, at all 
hazard, to retrieve the disaster of Abercrombie. He accordingly made 
every preparation to drive the French from Ticonderoga, and recover 
the free use of the lakes. 

It was in June 21, 1759, that Amherst reached Lake George with 
the bulk of the army designed to operate against Ticonderoga. Mante, 
in his account of the campaign, says : 

" In the evening he encamped on the banks of Lake George, and 
the next day, with the assistance of Colonel Montressor,| the chief en- 
gineer, traced out the ground for the erection of a fort." (" History of 
the War in America," p. 207.) 

* August I, 1758. The French report that the English "occupy two islands on the lake, in 
each of which they have a guard of four hundred men; that Captain Rogers is out every day 
scouting; sometimes north, at other times, south ; that they have intrenched themselves w'.th 
trees ; that there isn't any cannon in their intrenchments, but in the little fort." (" Coll. Doc," 
Vol. X, p. 850.) The French commander also says that the " English were intending to amuse us 
only by seizing the islands in Lake St. Sacrament." Where was the " little fort"? 

Montcalm says, in a memoir on the situation : " The enemy will remain in force at Chou- 
aguen until winter; in eight days they will have constructed there, as at the head of Lake St. 
Sacrament, an intrenchment impregnable to an assault of five thousand men, of whatever 
description. {Ibid, p. 871.) Possibly one of the places fortified at this time was Recluse Island, 
where there are still to be seen the remains of earth-works. 

f Jeffrey Amherst was of Kentish descent, born at Riverhead, England, Jan. 20, 1717. He 
was an ensign at fourteen, and, at twenty-five, aid-de-camp to Lord Ligonier. In 1756 he com- 
manded a regiment, and in 1758 he was appointed to service in America, with the rank of major- 
general. He commanded at the capture of Louisburg, and afterwards succeeded Abercrombie as 
commander in America. After the peace he returned to London. In 1763 he became Gover- 
nor of Guernsey, and afterward took a seat in the Privy Council. Advanced to the peerage, he 
servfd as commander-in-chief of the British forces. In 1795 he was superseded in his command 
by the Duke of York, for which he was compensated by an earldom, and the title of field-mar- 
shal. He died August 3, 1797, aged eighty-one years. 

t "James Montresor became Director of Engineers and Lieutenant-Colonel in the British 
Army 4th January, 1758, in which year he was at the head of the Engineer Department, in the 
expedition against Ticonderoga, under Abercrombie. He drew the plan of Fort Stanwix and the 
surrounding country in the summer of the same year. Ncw-Tork Documentary History^ 8vo, iv, 
425. He was Chief Engineer also to Amherst's Expedition, and superintended the^ construction 
of the Fort at the head of Lake George, in July, 1759. Knox's jfourna/, i, 403. He obtained 
m 1 77 1 a grant of 10,000 acres of land at the Forks of the Pagkatagkan or Otter Creek, in the 
present town of Panton, Vt., and in May, 1772, became Colonel in the army. He died in De- 
cember, 1775. '^rmy Lists; New-Tori Land Pafert." (" N. Y. Coll. Doc," Vol. x, p. 911.) 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. e 

The fort thus planned was Fort George, which, though never finished, 
has always maintained a prominent place in the recollections of the 
people, and often figured in connection with important historical events 
from that time down to the close of the Revolution. Since that period 
it has been the subject of neglect and decay. 

The fort was laid out on the brow of a low rocky hill, and was situ- 
ated about five or six hundred yards from the border of the lake. The 
situation was one of no strength, being easily commanded from all the 
neighboring heights; yet, perhaps, with the means and men at com- 
mand, they could hardly have done much better at that time. 

For the best published plan of the work, we are indebted to a woman, 
Mary Ann Rocque, "Topographer to His Royal Highness the Duke 
of Gloucester," who, in 1765, published at London "A Set of Plans 
and Forts in America, reduced from Actual Surveys." Sketch fourteen 
of this work shows the general plan of Fort George, and indicates the 
portion actually finished, which consisted of the south-west bastion. 
Its ruins may be seen to-day. 

In this plan a temporary stockade, with two guns, is shown at the 
north, a little more than halfway to the lake; while the quarters of the 
officers and men, together with the magazine and storehouse, are also 
delineated. The author of the sketch states that, at this time, there 
was a saw-mill in the swamp or low land to the south-west of the fort. 
On the north-east an octagonal space appears to have been devoted to 
a kitchen-garden, while a rude stone wall extended from the stockade 
in a curved line running north-east and south-west to the vicinity of the 
fort. The remains of this wall, which appears to have covered the 
front of the encampment, may still be traced for a considerable distance.* 
The left wing of the troops appears to have rested on the lake. 

In the journal of a Massachusetts soldier connected with Amherst's 
army, the eminence upon which the fort is situated is called "Element 
Hill," though the name does not occur elsewhere. The situation is 
one of great beauty, and commands a fine view of the lake. 

The march of Amherst to the lake is best described by Samuel 
Warner, one of the volunteers from Wilbraham, Massachusetts. As 
will be perceived, his sketch is very rude in its orthography, and could be 
bettered in other respects, yet he nevertheless gives a vivid idea of the 
fatigues endured on the day in question. Warner writes in his journal : 

"Thursday 21st this Day we marcht from fort Edward with about 
ten Regiments we struck our tents about brake of Day slong our packs 
about Run Rise and stood yf" on a full ouer then marcht forword Nor 
onloaded Nor Rested till we got within five miles of Lake gorge there 
Rested about one ouer and half varey hot men allmost Beet out By 

* The description is limited to the following: "A. Fort showing what was finished. I. 
Officer's Barracks. 2. Soldier's Barracks. 3. Powder Magazine. B. Stockaded Fort erected to 
serve while the other WIS building. Guard Room. The Kitchen. 66. Store Houses. 7. Saw 
Mill in swamp southwest." 



6 NOTES ON THE 

going without vittuals in the morning about 500 teems and wagins the 
officers had no packs the general and other big officers had horsis and 
Servens they did not consider the poore Solders Had they Had any Com- 
pashoon upon poore Solders they wood not a dun as they Did one man 
Dyed By Reason of such Hard traveling and Drinking of Warter this 
was a Conectucut man and two or three more it was said they ware a 
Dying the armey was marcht of in the moring on a sudden and had not 
time to git any Refreshment to Carey with them But God in His provi- 
dence has spared men's Lives & Carried them bather to we shall not 
Dey Before our time." (" Wilbraham Centennial," p. 210.) 

So scanty are the records of these movements, that it is necessary 
to resort for information to the crude, but truthful, journals of the 
soldiers of the day. 

Under the date of July 1st and 2d, Knox says : 

"Wet weather: the troops are employed in constructing a stone 
fortress fit to contain a garrison of six hundred men ; it is of an irregular 
form, situated on a rock, has one front to the lake, and a large tract of 
morass surrounds the other faces of it; a casement is to be built in the 
fort, spacious enough to receive four hundred men at least; and there 
is a plenty of good limestone, and excellent brick and clay on the spot." 
("Historical Journal," Vol. I, p. 379.) At this time, he says, there 
was also "a redoubt which covers our left flank at a distance of about 
five hundred yards." This is probably the temporary stockade deline- 
ated in the sketch by Mary Ann Rocque;* though, by referring to the 
scale of this female topographer, it will appear that the distances do not 
agree. Mary Ann Rocque's distances are evidently miscalculated, being 
too small. 

Quoting, again, from the journal of Warner, whose meaning, not- 
withstanding the style of his composition, is tolerably clear, we read, 
under date of Tuesday, July 3d : 

"There was four Brase 18 pounders or 22 Brought in to Day Sum 
Small pesses the 2d Recruits from Boston and harford came in to 
Day — Capt Jacob with 30 Men went out to day to find the inemy 
if could find any 24 more was dug up out of one hole whare we did 
Build the fort four Iron guns 22 pounders came in and afterwards two 
more Brase guns in the Hole making 10 22 or 24 pounder and 12 
twelve pounders." (" Wilbraham Centennial.") 



* Some distance south-east of Fort George, and on the south side of the old military road, are 
the scarcely distinguishable remains of an earth- work, or redoubt, known as " Fort Gage." 
The author, with the most careful inquiry, has never been able to ascertain its origin, though it 
figured in a colonial story, published in the "Knickerbocker Magazine." It is evidently of about 
the same age as Fort George. In 1812, there was still some portion of the woodwork remain- 
ing, though it has now disappeared. It is quite curious, on the whole, that the residents in this 
vicinity are able to give no clear tradition in connection with the fort, while they furnish so many 
ttoriet on every other antiquarian topic. 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. n 

The guns thus unearthed were buried by Abercrombie the previous 
year. Perhaps that general transported fewer guns to Albany than the 
French supposed. 

While these operations were going on, the French ascended the lake 
from Ticonderoga, took possession of the adjacent islands,* and boldly 
attacked parties of English who were at work near the forts chopping 
fire-wood, the Indians even scalping a number of the "Jersey Blues," 
and flourishing their bloody trophies in sight of the English lines. f 
July 4th, Knox writes : 

" Our engineers make great progress in erecting the new fort, and 
have got a fresh supply of bricklayers and masons." And, again : 

" A number of men are employed in making brick and lime ; others 
in works of various kinds, relating to further operations of the cam- 
paign, particularly at the new fort, the sloop, batteaus, &c." (" His- 
torical Journal," p. 381-2.) 

Next, for information regarding the state of affairs, we turn to the 
journal of Warner, which, unfortunately, is too brief: 

" Thursday 5th. *** alarum At Night By Y^ Reson of an Indians 
fiering on one of the Senterey and he Riturned a Shoot again and 
wonded him by the Sine of Blood there is a fort a Reacted the North 
end of Element Hill." 

Again, we read : 

*' Saturday 7th I went about the Element Hill on the North End of 
it there is a fort of 14 squares or turns in it made with wood and Stoane 
the Length of about 8 Roods, the wedth about Eighteen feet from out- 
side to outside the thickness of the Wall two feet and ^ the hith about 
five feet." 

But Warner appears to refer to the temporary stockade, already men- 
tioned on page 5, unless, indeed, by "Element Hill" he meant the 
hill on which was situated the fort now called Fort Gage, spoken of 

* " Early this morning [July 12] a detachment of grenadiers and rangers, with a few Indians, 
in all about four hundred, commanded by Major Campbell, imbarked in batteaus, and proceeded 
to the islands on the lake to drive tiie enemy from thence; they were convoyed by a floating- 
battery of one gun, with a Sargeant and six artillery men; and the rangers and the Indians were 
advanced in whale-boats. About eight, the van with the light troops were fired upon, whereby 
a Sergeant was killed and an Indian wounded, which brought on a smart firing on both sides, 
until the Major ordered to cease and retire, that the Proe might come into action; accordingly 
she worked up and gave them a fire, which obliged the enemy to abandon their posts, and 
return to their canoes; the Major then endeavored to come up with them, but found it impossible, 
their canoes, which were made of birch bark, being lighter and easier worked than our boats, 
&c. We fired several shots at them, but are uncertain as to any execution. After chacing for 
some time, the Major went back to the islands, burnt and destroyed all their works and huts, 
and returned with his detachment to the camp." (" Knox's Journal.") The reference to the 
"Proe" is explained under date of July 7, where Knox says: "An iron eighteen pounder was 
mounted to-day, in the stern of a new-built Proe, and was afterwards loaded and discharged for 
trial ; she rolled considerably, which is imputed to her being too narrow for her length. 

f See " N. Y. Mercury," July 9, 1759. 



g NOTES ON THE 

in the note page 6. This, however, does not appear probable. At that 
time, the work on Fort George went on with much rapidity. Knox 
writes, July 20 : 

*' The different forts and posts between this camp and Albany are 
garrisoned by independent companies and provincials, all subjected to 
the command of Colonel Montressor, who remains here for that pur- 
pose, and to forward the new fort." (" Historical Journal," p. 396.) 

We find, however, that Amherst did not wait for this fort to be 
finished before moving to attack the French. 

July 2 1st, he advanced against Ticonderoga, embarking his fine army 
in whale-boats and batteaux, sailing in perfect quiet in four columns. 
But as it is no part of the author's plan to write a general history of these 
proceedmgs, it will be sufficient to observe, here, that he reached the 
foot of the lake without meeting any opposition from the French, who 
abandoned their outworks and retreated to Ticonderoga, upon which 
fortress Amherst opened fire with his artillery, and, on the 27th, cap- 
cured the place, with a total loss of thirty or forty in killed and wounded. 
Thus easily did he accomplish that for which Abercrombie, with a great 
sacrifice of life, fought in vain. 

Amherst, nevertheless, repeated the policy pursued by Sir William 
Johnson after the Battle of Lake George, and neglected to follow the 
retreating French, applying himself instead to the improvement of the 
fortifications. 

In the meanwhile, the labor at Fort George went on, as it was the 
policy of Amherst to make his line of communication with Albany per- 
fectly safe, and accomplish his work so that it might stand securely 
in after times. 

Knox writes, at Ticonderoga, under date of July 28: 

" By our last accounts from the south side of Lake George, Colonel 
Montressor had got the new fort in a respectable posture of defense, 
which is now called Fort George." ("Historical Journal," p. 403.) 

But, with the completion of the bastion, the work finally ceased, and 
most persons appear to have forgotten that anything more was originally 
intended. The ultimate fall of the French power in America at last 
made the completion quite unnecessary ; we have, therefore, little to 
add to the sketch of this period, as, with the discontinuance of Am- 
herst's operations on the lake, the whole region lost its importance. 
Even as early as September 21, 1759, Lieutenant-Governor De Lancey 
issued a proclamation announcing that the iew inhabitants who had pre- 
viously established their abodes in the vicinity of the fort could safely 
return to their homes. 

During the time intervening between the Colonial and the Revolu- 
tionary period, the fort appears to have attracted no attention, and was 
allowed to decay under the hand of time. Governor Tryon said, in 
1774, that Fort Edward was wholly abandoned, and that only "a few 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. q 

men are kept at the works at the south end of Lake George to facilitate 
the transportation to the next posts, which are Ticonderoga and Crown 
Point." ("N. Y. Doc. Hist.," Vol. i, p. 512.) The fort was practi- 
cally abandoned in 1768. At this time, Mr. Samuel Deal had built a 
petti-auga^ a vessel like that in which Cornelius Vanderbilt began his 
career as a Staten Island ferryman, and designed to use it on the lake, 
"if any freight offers worth going over." This vessel was placed in 
charge of one John Jones, at Fort George. Mr. Deal, himself, sought 
to establish business at Ticonderoga. As early as 1773, ^''* ^^^'>. 
who was a merchant of New York, was interested in improvements at 
Ticonderoga, and petitioned the government for the exclusive right to 
establish a ferry* over the lake. With him was associated one Lieu- 
tenant Stoughton, who was drowned in the lake near the close of 1767, 
when his boat went to the bottom with all its valuable freight. 

Already there was quite a number of settlers within a few miles of 
the fort; and the Indians, likewise, resorted to the region to pursue 
their occupation as hunters. Frequent scenes of violence took place, 
as the white man questioned the Indian's rights, and^ in the conflicts 
that ensued, the latter sometimes fell before his murderous foe."(" The 
inhabitants were, m some instances, of a rude and lawless character, 
while the lives of the people"* generally were more or less disturbed, at 
this period, by the operations of reckless men on the New Hamp- 
shire Grants, who engaged in aggravating broils, and whose leaders 
were, at last, proclaimed felons, having a price set upon their heads. J 
Such was the general condition of the country around Fort George 
down to 1775, at which time, one Philip Skene, of Skenesboro', had 
received a commission from England that was intended to give him 
authority, not only as "Governor" of Ticonderoga and vicinity, but 
also of Fort George. Subsequent events prevented the assumption of 
the duties of the office, for, when the Revolution broke out, all things 
assumed a new aspect. 

* July 19, nys, Peter T. Curtenius is addressed by Jno. Burger, from Ticonderoga, who says : 
*• I have seen the petition oi Mr. John Spardin to the Provincial Congress of New York, who' 
lives at this landing; was placed here by his Majesty King George, for the sole purpose of car- 
rying, and seeing carried, everything for him and others across the lake; and am sensible that 
he did agree with Colonel Arnold to do the whole business for the pu'blic, as he has crafts and 
carriages convenient for that purpose, for twenty shillings per day; and I do verily believe the 
method they now have taken, will, in the main, amount to four or five pounds per day. This 
Mr. John Spardin, to my knowledge, is a very worthy man, and is both willing and capable to 
do the business tor us, so that we may not be in want of provision as often as we now arc; and I 
believe him to be a hearty son of liberty." ("Jour, of N. Y. Prov. Congress," Vol. ii, p. 67.) 

•)• See Beardsley's " Reminiscences," p. 16. 

\ The peaceful Quakers, however, had settled at Queensbury, in the following Revolution sym- 
pathising with the Crown. Ethan Allen, a ringleader, was priced at £150. 



to 



NOTES ON THE 




CHAPTER II. 




AY TENTH, 1775, Ticonderoga was captured 
by a party of volunteers, under the command 
of Benedict Arnold* and Ethan Allen, f with 
whom was associated Bernard Romans, the 
able and celebrated engineer. Romans im- 
proved the occasion to seize Fort George. It 
is true that local traditions have assigned this 
capture to others ; yet, when we examine the 
claim, it is clear that it was instituted by those 
•who knew nothing whatever of the state of the fort at the time. The 
traditional account says, in substance, that on the reception of the news 

* Benedict Arnold is, perhaps, one of the most thoroughly abused men of the Revolution, 
£ven Sparks, who tried to treat him fairly, reveals a strong prejudice, and portrays him as prac- 
tically disgraced when superseded at Ticonderoga; whereas the confidence of the authorities was 
unimpaired, he being returned afterwards to the lake in a still higher capacity ; and when, a 
little later, Washington devised the overland expedition against Quebec, upon the success of 
■which he believed the salvation of the country depended, he turned at once to Arnold as the 
man for the work; while, down to the very hour of his treason, Arnold occupied the highest 
place in his estimation. In connection with his Ticonderoga experience, the following letter 
•»o Arnold may well have a place : 

" CoLLONY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BaV 

" fVatertoivn June I, 1775. 

"Sir 

"This Congress have Received yours of the 19 and a3d of May ult, a copy of 
has been sent to N. Hampshire & Capt. Brown & Capt. Phelps they highly approve of and take 
great satisfaction in the acquisitions you have made at Ticonderoga Crown Point on The Lake 
•&C ; as to the State you are in respecting your Provision &c we have advices from Connecticut 
and New York that ample preparation is making with the Greatest Dispatch in those two col- 
Jonies from whence you may Depend on being seasonably supplied — they are Sorry to meet with 
^Repeated Requests from you that some Gentleman be sent to succeed you in command; they 
assure you that they place The Greatest Confidence in your Fidelity Knowledge Courage and Good 
'Conduct and they Desire that you at present Dismiss the Thought of Quiting Your Important Com- 
mand at Ti'jonderoga Crown Point Lake Champlain &c and you are hereby requested to continue 
your command over the forces raised by this colony Posted at those several Places at least untill 
the Collony of New York or Connecticut shall take on them the maintaining & commanding 
thi; same agreeable to an order of the Continental Congress." (MSS. in Mass. Archives.) 

•|- The following unpublished letter, addressed to the Connecticut committee, suggests the origin 
of the disorder that prevailed immediately after the capture of the post: 

"Sir Whereas the Fortress of Ticonderoga has fallen into the Hands of the Colonies 
together with the Ordnance Stores &c and whereas Capt, William Delaplace has in the fort 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 



II 



of the Battle of Lexington, one Daniel Parks, of Sandy Hill, raised a 
band of volunteers, and afterwards marched to Fort George, which, 
together with " Fort Gage," was garrisoned by two companies of artil- 
lery. On his arrival at the fort, he drove the garrison down the lake to 
Diamond Island, where they intrenched. The commander, it appears, 
was captured, and, on surrendering his sword, is represented as telling 
Parks that his neck would "stretch" for this "thing." 

The story, in former days, edified the villagers of Sandy Hill and 
vicinity, and, latterly, has crept into print, being embodied in patriot 
historical sketches and sermons ; but it is, nevertheless, destitute of a 
real foundation, as we have already seen that the fort was without a 
garrison at the time. The facts in connection with the transfer of Fort 
George to the American authorities are narrated in the following peti- 
tion of John Nordberg, now preserved in the " N. Y. Miscellaneous 
Papers," Vol. xxxi, p. 15 : 

"The most respectable Gentlemen, 

"Provincial Congress in New York. 

" I beg leave to represent to the most respectable Congress this cir- 
cumstance. 

"I am a native of Sweden, and have been persecuted for that, I have 
been against the French faction there. 

"I have been in His Britanick Magesty's Service sinse January 1758. 

"I have been twice shot through my body here last war in America, 
& I am now 65 years old — reduced of age, wounds & and gravels, 
which may be seen by Doctor Jones's certificate. 

" 1773. ^ g*^*^ permission in Jamaica to go to London where I petition 
to be an Invalid officer, but as a foreigner I could not enjoy a commis- 
sion in England, or Ereland His Magisty was graciously pleased to give 
me the allowance for Fort George 7 shilling sterling per day, with liberty 
to live where I please in America, because the fort has been abandoned 
this 8 year and only 2 men remain there for to assist any express going 
between New York and Canada. I arrived here in New York last year 
in September with intention to live in New York: as I heard nothing 
els than disharmony amongst Gentlemen which was not agreeable to my 
age. I resolved to go to Fort George and livj there in a little Cottage 
as a Hermit, where I was very happy for 6 months. 

"The 12 of May last Mr. Romans* came & took possession of Fort 

Ninety Gallons of Rum of his own property which is greatly wanted for the Refreshment of the 
Fatigued Soldiery — This is therefore to desire the Treasurer of the Colony of Connecticut to Pay 
him the Sd Wm De la Place Eighteen Pounds Eleven Shillings & Nine pence Lawfull money, 
as the Rum is appropriated for the use of the Garrison — Your Compliance will oblige the Garri- 
son 

" and your Humble Servant 

"Ethan Allen Commandt of Ticond." 

(Conn. Rev. MSS.) 
* "Bernard Romans was born in Holland; but, in early life removed to England, where he 
itudied the profession of an engineer, and was employed by the British Government in America 



12 



NOTES ON THE 



George, Mr. Romans behaved very genteel and civil to me. I told that 
I did not belong to the army and may be considered as a half pay officer 
invalid, and convinced him that I was pleagd with Gravell, Mr. Ro- 
mans give me his passport to go to New Lebanon for to recover my 
health, & he told me that in regard to my age, I may go where I please. 

*' As I can't sell any bill for my subsistance, & I can't live upon wind 
and weather, I therefore beg and implore the most respectable Congress 
permission to go to England, and I intend to go to my native country, 
I could have gone away secret so well as some others have done, but I 
will not upon any account do such a thing — I hope the most respectable 
will not do partially to refuse me, because major Etherington, Captain 
Brown, Captain Kelly which is in the army have been permitted to go 
to England, and it may happen they return here again on actual Service, 
which old age & infirmities render me incapable of. 

••'As it is the custom among the Christian nations and the Turks, 
that they give subsistance to every Prisoner according to their Rank 
should the most respectable Congress, have any claim upon me to be a 
prisoner here, I hope they will give me my subsistence from th 12 of 
May last, according to My Rank as Captain I implore the favor of the 
most respectable Congress answer. I have the honour to remain with 
great respect, 

"Gentlemen 

"Your most obed* humble Servant 

"John Nordberg. 

"New York, decembr 1775." 

It appears that Romans, finding it impossible to manage the leaders 
at Ticonderoga [See "Conn. Hist. Coll.," Vol. I, p. 169), improved 
the opportunity to perform a separate service. How he conducted* ihe 

sometime before the Revolution. Subsequently he was employed as a botanist by the same gov- 
ernment ; and, while in New York, engjged in the publication of a natural history of Florida, 
he was offered a position as military engineer by the New York Committee of Safety. In the 
capacity, he submitted to Congress, on the i8th of September, 1775, plans for fortifications to be 
erected in the Highlands, opposite West Point. Colonel Romans remained in service (Cap- 
tain Pennsylvania Artillery, Feb. 8, 1776) until near the close of the war, when he was captured 
at sea by the British, en route from New Haven or New London to Charleston, S. C. He is 
reported to have died about 1783." (Boynton's " West Point," p. zin.) 

* The following accounts from unpublished M3S. may be of interest here : 

"Stillwater 6tA Clock p.m 1775 

"Sir I have sent three barrels of Pork to Pawlet & one to Fort George with two barrels 
of FlowT that that I Bought of Esqr. Palmer who has sent his son with a waggon to Carry 
the same — There is due to Esqr. Palmer for the flower & grain for the horses, Four Pounds 
two shillings, which sum Please to Pay him & take his Recr. for the same, I shall get the 
Wagon forward as fast as Possible. Esqr. Palmer can inform how we have proceeded. I am Sir 
yours — 

" Jno. Stevens 
"To Capr. B. Romans.—'* 

"Reed from Barnard Romans Three Pounds Sixteen Shillings L. money of Connet^ for 
Traveling expence — rtcd. P — Jno. Stevens — 
*' May 5. 1775. — " 

"Reed. Stonacbice ^th May 1775. of Benjn. French two pounds sixteen shillings on acco/ 
of Barnard Romans — \tcd. P me — 
£2. 16 o "Jno. Stevens." 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. I^ 

affair, is shown by Nordberg's petition ; but as he failed to give any 
public account of the transaction, whatever credit his act may have 
deserved was appropriated by others for the benefit of Daniel Parks, the 
inscription upon whose gravestone, however, represents no more than 
that he was the man who "took the key" at *'Lake George."* 

The only printed reference to this subject that appeared, beyond what 
is contained in the American Archives, before the writer gave his atten- 
tion to the subject, is contained in a letter by Governor Tryon to the 
Earl of Dartmouth, dated Aug. 7, 1775, in which he alludes to 
" Capt" Nordbergh who was taken prisoner at Lake George the 12^^ of 
April last." ("Coll. Doc," Vol. viii, p. 597.) The date is too 
early by one month. 

The accounts of Bernard Romansf with the Colony of Connecticut 
show something of his movements at this time. One item runs "To 
Expend on road at mead"' runbridge & Fort George: 16 men. £1. 10." 

That Daniel Parks may have been one of the sixteen men employed 
in various ways by Mr. Romans, at a cost of "Xi. 10," is not unlikely, 
though this is a mere conjecture, destitute of proof. Nevertheless, the 
winter-evening gossip of the region made Parks something of a hero, 
averring that he was commander of the fort after the "capture." A 
nephew of Parks, some years since, also stated that, " while his Uncle 
Daniel Parks commanded at Fort George, a party of Tories and Indians 

"Fort George i6tA May 1775. Rec^. of Bernard Romans Esqr. the Sum of £4. 2. — for the 
use of the Colony of Massachusetts — Peter Caswell. — " 

" Rec(^. Stonacbicie 5M May 1775 — of Mr. Bernard Romans Sixteen Founds N York Cur- 
rency in full for 4 bb/i of Pork — 
£16. o: o — £n. — Lm. y. P. me Benjn. French." 

" Recif. at Bennington this 3^/ May 1735 of Bernard Romans the sum of Sixty Pounds Law 
full money of Connect/, for the use of the Colony. 

" Elisha Phelps." 

"Col. of Conn To Josiah Stoddard D 

"To my Expences at Fort George while Comisary of Stores 11 days £11. 6 

" To horse traveling once to Skensboro :, once to Fort George c 

"300 Miles from Salisbury — p 31/." ( 3- S'~" 

("Conn. Rev. Papers," Vol. iii, pp. 28-35.) 

* The following is the inscription chiselled upon a white marble tablet: 

" In memory of 
DANIEL PARKS 

Who departed this life 

March the 3 1818, aged 

78, one of the veterans of the 

Revolutionary war. he was 

the man who took the key 

from the brittish officer at 

Lake George in 1775." 

"The little rural (and family) burying ground containing this grave," says a correspondent, 
who sends the above, "is in the town of Moreau, Saratoga County, on the south bank of the 
Hudson (from the Big-Falls to Sandy-Hill, the course ot the Hudson is eastward), and about one 
mile from Baker's Falls, the starting point of the base lines of the great Kayaderosseras Patent." 

f Published, in full, from the original MS., by the author, in "Lake George: its Scenes and 
Characteristics." Appendix i. 



,. NOTES ON THE 

killed, at South Glens Falls, his brother Ephraim Parks and their Fathei 
Elijah Parks ; & captured his other son Elijah Parks, Jun., & carried 
him to Canada. (Lewis Brown, a brother-in-law of Ephraim Parks 
having escaped by the way.) This happened during the autumn of 
1775. The Tories & Indians were pursued by Ferguson, a refugee 
from the Great Bend above Glen's Falls, & commanded by . one 
Richardson, who wished to obtained the title deeds which Elijah 
Parks had received from John Glen. The principal purpose, however, 
was to avenge the Capture of Fort George^ for which Daniel Parks had 
frequently been threatened. He, however, escaped, although laid-in- 
wait-for by the Richardson party, which (after the Glen's Fall massacre) 
returned via Schroon Lake to Montreal."* 

A good-sized volume might be filled with similar narrations, con- 
nected with this and kindred subjects of the time ; yet, it will be found, 
by a careful examination, that the accounts have no consistency and little 
foundation, the truth of the matter being like Gratiano's reasons, which 
were "as two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chafF." About all 
that is clear is the fact that broils were constantly taking place at this 
period all through the lake region, families and neighborhoods being 
divided on the great question of the day. The Parks family appear to 
have suffered in body and estate, but not, however, on account of the 
services of Daniel Parks in the *' capture" of Fort George. It is 
clear that he was never engaged in the military service at all; while the 
assertion that his progenitor was an officer in the Royal Army is put to 
flight by an examination of the British Army Lists, which do not contain 
the name. We must, therefore, dismiss Daniel Parks from connection 
with the command of this post, and leave undigested and indigestible 
tales like these to take care of themselves; while we note what cer- 
tainly occurred after the dismantled fort was taken possession of by 
Bernard Romans. 

The first thing done after Captain Nordberg was dispossessed on .May 
12, was to prepare for the removal of the cannon from Ticonderoga. 
We learn this from the letter of Benedict Arnold to the Massachusetts 
Committee of Safety, where he says : 

" I am, with the assistance of Mr. Bernard Romans, making prepar- 
ations at Fort George for transporting to Albany those cannon that will 
be serviceable to our Army at Cambridge." In a postscript, he adds : 
** Since writing the above Mr. Romans concludes going to Albany, to 
forward carriages for the cannon, &c, and provisions, which will soon 
be wanted, i beg leave to observe that he has been of great service 
here, & 1 think him a very spirited judicious gentleman, who has the 
service of the country much at heart, and hope he will meet proper 
encouragement. "t (" Amer, Archives," Ser. iv. Vol. 11, p. 585.) 

* MS. letter of an old citizen of that locality. 

•j- Another account furnished by this enterprising individual, though not immediately con- 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 



\s 



May 23d, he says : " I have sent expresses to Fort George & Skenes- 
borough to rally the country." (Ibid., p. 694,) This was done with 
reference to an anticipated attack by the British. 

Thus, in accordance with a sound policy, they proceeded to reap the 
fruits of their venturesome undertaking at Ticonderoga. 

That one of the main ideas had in view in the capture of Ticon- 
deroga, was the possession of the cannon and stores for revolutionary 
purposes, is perfectly clear, notwithstanding the subsequent shuffling of 
the Continental Congress. Arnold and Romans were therefore right in 
providing for the safety of the cannon ; and yet, in a few days, when 
their eyes were opened to the possibility of the recapture of Ticon- 
deroga by the British, they began to feel less haste than formerly about 
removing the war material. The Continental Congress, in session at 
Philadelphia, had, nevertheless, in the meanwhile, taken action, and 
ordered the captured property to be removed at once to Fort George. 
Its action was somewhat curious, and shows that the members still saw 
hope of a peaceable agreement with the mother country, and were 
willing to return the cannon on the conclusion of a peace. The 
Resolution of Congress, passed May i8th, runs as follows: 

'^Resolved, Whereas there is indubitable evidence, that a design is 
formed by the British ministry, of making a cruel invasion from the 
province of Quebec, upon these colonies, for the purpose of destroying 
our lives and our liberties, and some steps have actually been taken to 
carry the said design into execution; and, whereas, several inhabitants 
of the northern colonies, residing in the vicinity of Ticonderoga, and 
immediately exposed to incursions, impelled by a just regard for the 
defence and preservation of themselves and their countrymen from such 
imminent dangers and calamities, have taken possession of that post, in 

nected with our subject, may properly be introduced here. It is from the MSS. in Connecticut 
State Library ("Revolutionary War," Vol. in, p. 25). 

"Acer, of monies advanced by Bernard Romans in Expedition against Ticonderoga as 
'775 f*"" ^^'^(- '^''Pt Hirr Wto. Nichols Clerk of the Committee. — 

May 1st Expences at Doctr. Wheelers 34J I i for a Gun dd Mr Mott 

do. at Dewey's is 4 — do. Smiths u 2 — do. at Stockbridge 91 8 
do at Pearls U 4 Expj. from Hartford to Salisbury 431 

Cash pd. Isaac Peck's Exps. from Pittsfield 
Expeni. at Jewits u 4 — Provisions Phelps & Heacocks 151 
for Provisions at Bennington 275 8 — do. & Shoes 231 6 
for Cloth for Knapsack 51 4 — horse shoeing zs 

for keep^. Haliey's horse 4s 6. Halsey & Stevens Exp*, at Albany 42s 1 
for shoeing horse 2S 5 — Cloth for Knapsacks 141 
Paid Edward Mott 351 3d — do. Nichols 6s 6 — do. Bull 9* 4 
Sundries of Heman Allen 
for Cloth for Knapsack 51 4. Exp*, at Jericho 30* 



**The above is a True Copy of the Acco/. as kept Per 

" Wm Nichols Clerk Comtec." 



£4. 


4- 


II 




12. 


2 


2. 


4- 
2. 


4 
8 




16. 


4 


2. 


II. 


2 


2. 


7- 

6. 

i6. 


4 
7 
S 


2. 


II. 


I 


I. 


0. 


— 


I. 


'5- 


4 


£19. 


8. 


4 



l6 NOTES ON THE 

which was lodged a quantity of cannon and military stores, that would 
certainly have been used in the intended invasion of these Colonies: 
this Congress earnestly recommend it to the committees of the cities 
and counties of New-York and Albany, immediately to cause the said 
cannon and stores to be removed from Ticonderoga to the south end of 
lake George; and, if necessary, to apply to the colonies of New-Hamp- 
shire, Massachusetts-Bay, and Connecticut, for such an additional body 
of forces as will be sufficient to establish a strong post at that place, and 
effectually to secure said cannon and stores, or so many of them as it 
may be judged proper to keep there. And that an exact inventory be 
taken of all such cannon and stores, in order that they may be safely 
returned, when the restoration of the former harmony between Great- 
Britain and these colonies, so ardently wished for by the latter, shall 
render it prudent, and consistent wi:h the over-ruling law of self-preser- 
vation." ("Journal of Congress," Vol. i, p. 71.) 

Thus feeble and apologetic was the language, of that Congress in 
whose name Ethan Allen pretends to have demanded the surrender of 
the fort. 

But, as already observed, a feeling of alarm arose, and the various 
authorities of Massachusetts and New-Hampshire remonstrated. Yet, 
on May 29, Jonathan Trumbull wrote to his brother: "I am glad to 
find by our letters from New York, that their Congress do not construe 
the resolution of the Grand Congress to intend an evacuation of Ticon- 
deroga and Crown Point, but only a removel of such stores, &c, as 
necessary, to Fort George." (" Amer. Archives," Ser. iv. Vol. 11, p. 
733.) In the meanwhile, also, on the representations of Arnold, the 
Congress voted to let such cannon remain at Ticonderoga as might be 
temporarily needed. But, eventually, the alarm subsided, and the British, 
instead of becoming the aggressors, as was anticipated, yielded the 
ground far and near, having no sufficient force with which to meet the 
Americans. 




HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 



>7 



g^^ 


^^^^^ 











CHAPTER III 




HERE BEING NOW no immediate prospect of an 
attempt to recapture Ticonderoga, Arnold wrote to 
the Continental Congress from Crown Point, as fol- 
lows, under date of May 29 : " I have sent to Lake 
George one brass twelve pounder, six large brass & 
iron mortars and howitzers, & am making all possi- 
ble preparation for transporting all the cannon here, 
and as many as can be spared at Ticonderoga, to Fort George." 
(" Amer. Archives," Ser. iv, Vol. 11, p. 734.) 

Still we find that, on June lOth, Ethan Allen is "much surprised 
that your Honours should recommend to us to remove the artillery to 
the South End of Lake George, & there make a stand ; the conse- 
quence of which must ruin the frontier settlements." He wanted the 
"northerly part of Lake Champlain as a frontier, instead of the south 
promontory of Lake George." {Ibid, p. 734.) 

The Massachusetts Provincial Congress also wrote to the Governor 
of Connecticut, arguing against making "William Henry," meaning 
Fort George, the base of military operations, showing that, if Ticon- 
deroga were given up, the whole country would be open to the enemy. 
{Ibid, p. 736.) But New York had interpreted the meaning of the 
Continental Congress aright, and all these protests were, on the whole, 
quite needless. 

While Ticonderoga was still retained, the common cause benefited 
from the capture, and soon a portion of the artillery found its way to 
the camp of Washington, at Cambridge. 

To transport the artillery, flat-boats were built. The following 
appears among the memoranda of Arnold : 

" To be built on Lake George , 2 flat-bottomed boats, forty feet 

long, twelvcwide, and four deep, with strong knees, well-timbered, & 



J 8 . NOTES ON THE 

of four inch oak plank — these may be built at Spardens,* where there is 
timber & a saw-mill handy. * * There will be wanted at Fort George 
ten good teams or four yoke of oxen each." It, is added, that Colonel 
Webb may inform himself about procuring them in the neighborhood. 

A letter, written by Barnabas Deane, at Albany, about three weeks 
after the capture of Fort George, shows the condition of things at the 
fort and in the neighborhood, and, at the same time, testifies to the 
superior public spirit of the New Englanders; we hear nothing, how- 
ever, of Daniel Parks. Deane says : 

''There are now about 150 men at Crownpoint, 18 men at Ticon- 
deroga, and 25 men at Fort George j which is not one quarter of what 
is actually necessary for holding those important posts until the cannon 
&c. can be removed. Everything is in the utmost decay at Ticon- 
deroga and Crownpoint. It struck me with horror, to see such grand 
fortifications in ruins. Crownpoint is one heap of i-ubbish, and the 
wood-work of Ticonderoga not much better. Fort George is a small 
stone fort, and secure against small arms, but not bear cannonading. 

" You no doubt have had an exact ace* of the ordnance taken at 
Crownpoint and Ticonderoga. There are four iron mortars and three 
brass howitzers sent down to Fort George, which came in the boat that 
I crossed Lake George in. I met 70 men on their march to Crown- 

* " Memorial of John Sparding to New York Congress. 

" To the Honourable the President and Members of the Provincial Congress now assem- 
bled at New York : 
" The Memorial of John Sparding, living at Ticonderoga Landing, the north end of Lake 
George, June I, 1775, humbly sheweth : 

" That your memorialist has, for upwards of six years past, been at a great expense in providing 
boats and carriages for the ease and convenience of persons travelling this way with their baggage 
and effects, over the lake, and carrying, at an easy rate; likewise providing batteaus on Lake 
Champlain, for the conveniency of gentlemen and others travelling to Canada. The unhappy 
differences now subsisting between the Colonies and the Mother Country, have put a stop to any 
business your memorialist was formerly engaged in. Your memorialist has, ever since the tenth 
day of May, (the day on which the fort at Ticonderoga was taken,) assisted with boats, men, 
&c., in transporting the troops, with their baggage and provisions, over Lake George and the 
carrying place, upon no other security than a verbal agreement with Colonel Arnold, for twenty 
shillings, currency, per day, for a perryaugre capable of crossing the lake with seventy men, 
besides a quantity of provision, and a batteau for carrying expresses; and when there was not a 
sufficient loading for the perryaugre, to have the privilege of conveying such private property as 
might offer, of which your memorialist is at present deprived ; your memorialist have like- 
wise carted the greatest part of the baggage and provisions over the carrying place, the whole 
amount of which, to this day, is near seventeen Pounds. And as the gentlemen appointed here 
have this day intimated to your memorialist that his teams are not to be any more employed, 
they having brought teams over the lake for said service ; your memorialist, therefore, trusting 
in the known justice and humanity of the gentlemen in New- York, who scorn to let any indi- 
vidual suffer, which must inevitably be the case of your memorialist, unless your goodnes prevents 
it, by confirming the agreement made by Colonel Arnold : your memorialist therefore humbly 
hopes, as he has done his utmost endeavour for the good of the common cause, and is disabled 
at present from providing for his family, you will take the same into consideration. And your 
memorialist will ever pray. 

"J. Sparding." 

("American Archives," Fourth Series, Vol. n, pp. 873-4.) 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. ig 

point to reinforce that place, and believe there will be 500 men there in 
ten days' time. 

"The people of this county have sent a considerable quantity of 
provision up, and are now sending off men; but they don't act with 
that spirit and life that the N. England men have on such occasions. 
Wherever we find a number of them settled down, we find men who 
are ready and willing to go immediately in defence of their country, 
which is not the case with people here in general, altho' they seem well 
disposed in the Common Cause. 

"I met the Express with the Resolutions of the Congress to remove 
all the artillery to the south end of Lake George, which gives the 
greatest anxiety to the inhabitants back, as it leaves the whole of them 
exposed to the inroads of the Canadians and Indians if they should take 
up against us, as Fort George is no barrier against them ; hut if we hold 
Ticonderoga, which is the key of the whole communication between 
Canada and the English settlements, it will effectually secure the whole 
of our frontiers and keep us masters of the Lake. I am really in hopes 
the matter will be reconsidered in Congress, and that Ticonderoga may 
be held, as it is a place of the last importance in this critical juncture. 
There will be a sufficiency of artillery for the fort at Ticonderoga when 
we have removed 100 pieces to Fort George. This will be handed 
you by an Express, who carries the opinion of this city and county to 
the Congress, on this important affair. 

"I expect to leave this place in a day or two for home, as I can be 
of no further service here at present. I never have had so fatigueing a 
journey in my life as this has been. The intolerable heat in crossing 
the Lakes in open boats, and being out all night exposed to the cold 
fogs that arise from stagnated waters, gave me a violent cold, which 
bro't on a fever for two or three days, but is now in some degree mod- 
erated. I can say nothing new to you from home, as you have likely 
heard from there since I have." (Correspondence of Silas Deane, 1775. 
"Conn. Hist. Soc. Coll.," pp. 248-9.) 

But, in the meanwhile, who was in command at Fort George? This 
place, not having been otherwise provided for, was controlled from 
Ticonderoga. There is no trace whatever of the interference of Ethan 
Allen, but Benedict Arnold boldly asserted his authority, and made 
himself felt. Fort George was, at this time, a mere dependency of 
Ticonderoga. The name of the petty officer in charge at the "Land- 
ing" does not appear. Soon, however. Colonel Hinman, of Con- 
necticut, superseded Arnold,* when the former sent the Connecticut 

* For a short time after the capture of Ticonderoga, Ethan Allen was able to hold his sway, 
notwithstanding the fact that, as Arnold tells us, in one place, they had, before the capture, 
agreed "to issue further orders jointly," and, in another, that they had agreed upon a "joint 
command of the troops." (Letters of May ii and 29, 1775, in "Archives.") But Allen was 
soon weariea out by the pertinacity of his rival, who was left to sign himself as the " Com- 
manaer," without let or hinderance, until superseded by Colonel Hinman. July 31, Schuyler 



20 



NOTES ON THE 



engineer to examine Fort George. Hinman writes from Ticonderoga, 
July 3, to the New York Provincial Congress, that Col. Mott had sur- 
veyed Fort George, and found it indefensible against artillery. He was 
of the opinion that "a sufficient number of troops should be stationed at 
Fort George, with a constant scouting party, in order to prevent any 
sudden attack of the enemy, & to keep up a safe communication with 
Albany." ("Cor. N. Y. Prov. Congress," Vol. 11, p. 28.) He was 
also desirous of having a force repair the roads and bridges between 
Half Moon and Fort George. 

In this month, we come to something more tangible. On the 24th 
of July, Col. Van Schaick made a return of his men, and testified that 
five companies were there "on actual service at Lake George & the 
posts adjacent." [Ibid^ p. 68.) Van Schaick himself was at Albany, 
one of his captains being at Fort George. 

During the summer of 1775, the northern military operations were 
conducted chiefly within the enemy's lines, and the work of the gar- 
rison was confined to the forwarding of reinforcements* and supplies. 
There was an abundance of hard work, in which they were cheered by 
the news from the North, where at one time the Americans were likely 
to meet with permanent success. There were, indeed, rumors of flank 
movements on the part of the British, while a lawless band from Ver- 
mont, June 5th, improved the disturbed condition of public affairs to 
descend from the region of the Green Mountains to break up the court 
sitting at Fort Edward, with the intention of "abolishing the law." 
But, fortunately. Captain Mott was at that time marching from Con- 
necticut with reinforcements for Ticonderoga, and, being notified of 
the intentions of these roving ruffians, who were mostly " poor debtors," 
with nothing to lose by a reign of anarchy, he marched to the relief 
of the court, and drove the desperadoes back to their native fastnesses 
among the hills, where men of their stamp had long been accustomed to 



writes, from Ticonderoga, that ''a controversy has arisen between Alien & Warner; the 
former, you will perceive is left out altogether by the Green-Mountain Boys." ("Cor. N. York 
Prov. Congress," p. 43.) 

* "Order to Mr. Dally, (i77S) 

"You are Desirea By the General Committee of the Association for the City & 
County of New York To Proceea With all Convenient Speed with the Carpenters here named 

Daniel Lawrence Barnet Christopher 

James Sharp Isaac Dodge 

Thomas Hunt Jno. German 

To Albany and there Apply to tne Committee for what Assistance you may want In Forwarding 
you to Lake George Where you are to build scows and what other Crafts may there Be Wanting 
and when you have Completed all that is to be Built or Repared there, you are to return directly 
to New York and you are to have the Following Stipulated Wages from the Day you Sett of To 
the Day you Return to New York Except you are detained By your own Neglect By the Way 
John Daly foreman 12s per Day and found Every Thing Except Liquor — all the rest of the 
above Named Carpenters to have nine Shilling & Sixpence per Day & Everything found Except 
Liquor." (" N. Y. Misc. Papers," pp. 34, 93.) 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 21 

scenes of lawlessness and disorder. With this efFort, the operations 
of these lawless men, so far as this region was concerned, but elsewhere, 
led on by designing men, they created great dissensions.* See (" Corr. 
Prov. Congress," Vol. ii.) 

Finally, the summer wore away, and winter settled down up the lake, 
covering St. Sacrament with a bridge of ice hardly adapted to advance 
the military operations. 

But when the season of activity opened again, the scene on the 
lake became more animated than before, and the slow-moving barge 
was, in a measure, superseded by the light batteaux, which everywhere 
ploughed the lake, impelled by hurrying oars. Accordingly, Fort George 
assumed all of its earlier importance, and became a locality of deep in- 
terest to both soldier and civilian. 

But, to make the situation clear, it must be stated, in brief, that during 
the previous year, 1775, the campaign in Canada had been conducted 
by Generals Schuyler and Montgomery, the army, as we have seen, 
being supplied by transports on Lake George. Early in that year, 
Schuyler had been forced from the field by disease, leaving his coadjutor 
to capture Fort St. John and Montreal. At Quebec the brave Mont- 
gomery fell in the assault, and his defeated troops wintered at Sillery ; in 
the spring, receiving General Wooster as their commander. 

But the second attempt upon Quebec also failed, and, for the lack of 
reinforcements, the Americans were under the necessity of retreating 
from Canada. The command of this army was now given to General 
Thomas, and was included in the department commanded by Schuyler. 
General Thomas, though an efficient officer, strove in vain to stay the 
tide of defeat. April 17, 1776, he left Fort George, and, the next day, 
five hundred troops followed him down the lake; while, two days later, 
it was estimated that fifteen hundred were already on the way, and 
expecting to make a "respectable figure before Quebec." But they all 
failed to realize their wishes, while General Thomas died of the small- 
pox, which erelong decimated the army, and inspired deep dismay. 

At this period, some distinguished visitors reached Fort George. 
These were Benjamin Franklin and his associates. Chase and Carroll, 
who had been appointed by Congress, as commissioners, to visit and 
treat with the Canadian authorities. They were also accompanied by 
the brother of Commissioner Carroll, a clergyman who afterwards 
became the Roman Catholic Bishop of Baltimore. 

The party ascended the Hudson by sloop and batteau, and crossed 

* The leaders in Vermont who had previously encouraged and led the way in the disturbances 
of the times, discountenanced this act; but some of them relapsed into their old ways. Among 
these was Ethan Allen, the leader of the "Bennington mob" of 1774. May 25, 1779, he fell 
upon the peaceable inhabitants of Brattleboro', calling out the appeal of Samuel Minott to Gov. 
Clinton, wherein, he says, " Our situation is truly critical and distressing, we therefore most 
humbly beseech your Excellency to take the most speedy & effectual Measures for our Relief; 
otherwise our Persons and Property must be at the disposal of Ethan Allin, which is more to be 
dreaded than death with all its terrors." (" N. Y. Doc. Hist.," Vol. iv, p, 581.) 



22 



NOTES ON THE 



from the Falls of the Hudson to the lake by land. Though charged 
with a grave mission, all were fully alive to the romantic interest of 
the region through which they had passed; but they arrived at Lake St. 
Sacrament too early in the season to enjoy its rare scenery. The ice on 
the lake had just broken up, and the hills were verdureless and gray. 
Speaking of the approach to the lake, Carroll says, in the journal : 

" iSth. We set off for Wing's tavern about twelve o'clock this day, 
and reached Fort George about two o'clock; the distance is about eight 
miles and a half; — you cannot discover the lake until you come to the 
heights surrounding it, — the descent from which to the lake is nearly a 
mile; — from these heights you have a beautiful view of the lake for 
fifteen miles down it. Its greatest breadth during these fifteen miles 
does not exceed a mile and a quarter, to judge by the eye, which, how- 
ever, is a very fallacious way of estimating distances. Several rocky 
islands appear in the lake, covered with a species of cedar here called 
hemlock." (Carroll's "Journal," p. 49.) 

The philosopher, Franklin,* and his party embarked in a flat-bot- 
tomed boat, thirty-six feet long, propelled in part by *'a square sail or 
blanket," and proceeded down the lake. Before starting, however, 
they took a general view of the situation, and examined Fort George, 
concerning which, Mr. Charles Carroll wrote in the journal, as follows: 

"Fort George is in as ruinous a condition as Fort Edward, it is a 
small bastion, faced with stone, and built on an eminence commanding 
the head of the lake. — There are some barracks in it, in which the 
troops were quartered, or rather one barrack, which occupied almost the 
whole space between the walls. At a little distance from this fort," 
the writer adds, "and to the westward of it, is the spot where Baron 
Dieskau was defeated by Sir William Johnson. About a quarter of a 
mile to the westward the small remains of Fort William Henry are to 
be seen across a little rivulet which forms a swamp." (/^/c/, p. 49.) 

May 2ist, General Schuyler had established his head-quarters at Fort 
George, where he was visited by Mr. Graydon, who came to bring 
money for the troops. Speaking of the road from Fort Edward to Fort 
George, Graydon says : 

"It was almost an entire wooa, acquiring a deeper gloom, as well as 
from the general prevalence of pines, as from its dark extended covert, 
being presented to the imagination as an appropriate scene for the trea- 
sons, stratagems and spoils of savage hostility. "f (" Memoirs," p. 

* General Schuyler says, at this time, in one of his letters: "A vile ague seized me some 
days ago, but Doctor Franklin and the other gentlemen administered such a number of doses of 
Peru-vie. bark, that it has left me, and I hope that 1 shall last at least this campaign." (" Am. 
Archives," Ser. iv. Vol. v, p. 1098.) 

•}• While on these subjects, we may also call attention to " Blind Rock," a place where the 
Indians are said to have tortured their prisoners, put out their eyes, and indulged in other charac- 
teristic pastimes. The locality is pointed out in a letter addressed to the author, by the Rev. A, 
S. Fennel, of Glen's Falls. He writes : 

" * Blind Rock,' one of the boulders which are numerous in this region, lies about half way 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 



23 



142.) Again, speaking of Bloody Pond, near Fort George, on the 
occasion of his approach, he says: "The descending sun had shed a 
browner horror on the wilderness; and as we passed the Dismal pool, 
we experienced that transient emotion of commisseration which is natu- 
ral to the mind when contemplating past events involving the fall of 
friends, the fortunes of war, and the sad condition of human kind." 
{Ibid.) 

General Schuyler, at this time, occupied such narrow quarters that 
he appears to have had few facilities for extending hospitalities, yet he 
had his family with him, and kept his table furnished with wine. He 
did not invite every one to drink it, however; and Graydon, who was 
in sympathy with Schuyler and hostile to "Yankees," speaks, with 
satisfaction, of the contemptuous and undignified manner in which 
Schuyler, in moments of forgetfulness, allowed himself to treat certain 
of the Nev/ England officers under his command. This unfortunate 
peculiarity, undoubtedly, led the way 10 the loss of his place, and 
deprived the country of the services of an otherwise valuable officer 
and an upright man. 

At this time Schuyler had an abundance of batteaux, and could move 
three regiments at a time. Accordingly, he was very busy forwarding 
troops. He had, also, a flat-bottomed boat with sails. It was capable of 
carrying two hundred barrels, and made the trip in five days. Eleven 
batteaux carried thirty barrels each, and, with seven men, made the 
trip in four days. 

On the 26th of May, he had only one hundred and eighteen men at 
the post, while but forty-five were fit for duty, and these, even, were 
*'raw & undisciplined." He well remarks, that a force so trifling 
*' leaves us exposed to the insults of any very inconsiderable party, who 
may destroy our boats & buildings." (" Archives," Ser. iv. Vol. 
VI, p. 582.) 

June 15, Schuyler says: "As to fortifying Ticonderoga & Fort 
George, and opening the road by Wood Creek, it is utterly impossible 
with the men I now have left; they are so fully employed in batteaus 
&c., that I do not believe there is now a relief at Fort George for a 
subaltern's guard." {Ibid, p. 912.) 

In June, General Gates succeeded General Thomas in the command 
at the North, but his army having been driven from Canada within the 
department of Schuyler, he was, therefore, properly subordinate to him, 
as a vote of Congress finally decided on June 12th; yet, on the 17th, 
Gates issued the following from his head-quarters at Ticonderoga : 

up the first hill we reach in passing to Lake George — about 2^ miles from this village, & 20 
rods East of the plank-road. It was upon the margin of the old high-way, which, at that place, 
was on the same spot as the old military road. It is a little more than half way from Fort Edward 
to the Lake, & is on high & dry ground, while for considerable distance on this side the ground 
must have been originally somewhat wet & swampy. This rock is repeatedly mentioned by 
f)ame in our early town records, as a land-mark recognized & well known. The legends in regard 
to this as a place of Indian resort, & where their captives suffered, arc too numerous for me to 
attempt to indicate." 



2 A NOTES ON THE 

"Sir: I understand that there is a wanton waste of powder at your 
post, in firing a morning & evening gun, and in unnecessary salutes. 
It is my positive order that this practice be immediately discontinued, 
and no ammunition expended on any account whatever, except in oppo- 
sition to the attacks of the enemy. I am, sir, your humble servant. 

"Horatio Gates, Major-General. 
"To the Commanding officer at Fort George." 

July 17, Gates also wrote from Ticonderoga to Colonel Gansevoort, 
in command at the fort, to prevent desertions, as "some villains may 
perhaps feign themselves sick" to the end of escaping the service. He 
also complains that letters are broken open and detained at Fort George. 

John Trumbull wrote to Colonel Read, from head-quarters, July 22, 
1776: 

*'Sir: By the General's order, I wrote you four or five days since, 
desiring you to collect all the well at Fort George of every corps and 
return to the army with them. Perhaps you have not received that 
letter. There is now a still more urgent necessity for your immediate 
return, as you are appointed to the command of a brigade, with whom 
your presence is absolutely necessary. You will therefore, sir, on 
receipt of this, immediately collect all who are able to return to duty, 
and repair with them to this place as soon as possible. 

"I am, sir, your very humble servant 

"John Trumbull. 
"To Colonel Read." 

("Amer. Archives," Vol. i, p. 511.) 

The following distinctly indicates who was the actual commander at 
Fort George: 

"Fort George, ■^oth July^ '^11^ 
" Sir: I have only time to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of 
the 13''^ Instant which came to my hand this morning And in answer 
thereto inform you that the Companies of Col. Wyncoops Regiment 
which were here are gone to Ticonderoga and some to Skenesborough. 
" I am Sir your Humi Svt 

"Peter Gansevoort Lt. Colonel 

" Commanding Fort George. 
"To John McKesson." 

{Ibid^ p. 93 ; 




HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 



^5 




CHAPTER IV 



1^1 



T THIS PERIOD, the army under Gates was 

suffering from infectious diseases, and especially 
from the small-pox, which led to the establish- 
ment of a general hospital at Fort George. On 
this subject, Schuyler* wrote to Washington, 
July 1 2th, as follows: 

"By advice of the General Officers, I have 
ordered all the sick to Fort George. Two 
houses, capable of containing about three hundred and fifty, are ready 
for their reception, and a sufficient quantity of boards is collected, under 
which to "shelter the remainder comfortably until hospitals can be 
erected." (Force's "Archives," Ser. v. Vol. i, p. 232.) 

In a letter, of the same date, to Governor Trumbull, he says : "I 
believe the last of these unhappy people will be there this evening, or 
to-morrow at farthest." {Ibid^ p. 237.) 

The terrible condition of the army, at this time, is shown by General 
Gates, writing from Ticonderoga to Washington. July 29th, he says : 

"Everything about this army is infected with pestilence: the clothes, 
the blankets, the air, and the ground they walk upon. To put this evil 
from us, a General Hospital is established at Fort George, where there 
are now between two & three thousand sick, and where every infected 
person is immediately sent." (Ibid.) 

July 31, Trumbull writes to Colonel Ganesvoort: 

" It has been told the General that some officers at your post (not 
yourself) have presumed to give furloughs to the sick, when discharged 
from the hospital. You will inquire into this, and let any gentleman 
who may have done it heretofore know, that if he is found guilty of 



* Schuyler wrote to Governor Trumbull, July 25 : "Before I last went to Crown Point, I 
gave directions ro Lieutenant-Colonel Buell to collect all the boards he possibly could for erecting 
hospitals for the sick at Fort George, & temporary barracks for the troops wherever they might be." 



26 NOTES ON THE 

conduct so unprecedented and so prejudicial to the service, he will be 
immediately put in arrest, and tried for his presumption and breach of 
orders by a general court-martial." [Ibidf p. 698.) 

About this time Baron Woedtke died at Fort George, though the exact 
date of the event cannot now, at least by the writer, be ascertained.* 
General Wilkinson also tells us, in his " Memoirs," of his own narrow 
escape at this place : 

*' Disappointment & chagrin exasperated my desease, until it was con- 
sidered necessary to remove me to the south end of Lake George, under 
the personal attendance of Doctor Jonathan Potts, the surgeon-general. 
There aid, in spite of medical, I was reduced to the last extremity; every 
hope of my recovery had expired ; I was consigned to the grave, and a 
coffin was prepared for my accommodation." (" Memoirs," Vol. i, p. 86.) 

* The following documents bear on the subject of Baron Woedtke's death : 

"Fort George, yu/y 20, 1776. 
"Sir: I have to inform you that I still lie in a very weak and low situation. I find the 
Canadians are gone on to Albany. I beg leave to advise the General to recall them to this place, 
with the person who has assumed to himself the title of Major, one Mr. Hare, who, when he 
arrives here, I pray may be put under arrest, and deprived of that Commission which he has 
assumed to himself, which, I assure you, I never authorised him to take. 

" I have the honor to be your Excellency's most obedient Servant, 

" Baron de Woedtke. 
*'To Major-General Gates." 

(" Amer. Archives," Ser. v. Vol. i, p. 475.) 
Gates to President of Congress, Ticonderoga, July 29, 1776. 

"Brigadier Baron de Woedtke went by my permission, to the General Hospital, at Lake 
George, about a fortnight ago. His health was indeed so much impaired, that I doubt his 
recovery." {^Ihid^ p. 649.) 

General Gates write to Congress, from Ticonderoga, August 6, 1776, as follows: 
"Brigadier-General Baron de Woedtke died at Lake George the beginning of last week. He 
was buried with the honors due to his rank." [Ibid, p. 796.) 

"Baron de Woedtke had been for many years an officer in the army of the King of Prussia, 
and had risen to the rank of Major. Coming to Philadelphia with strong letters of recom- 
mendation to Dr. Franklin from persons of eminence in Paris, he was appointed by Congress a 
brigadier-general on the i 6th of March and ordered to Canada. He died at Lake George, and was 
turied with the honors due to his rank." (" Washington's Writings," Vol. iv, p. 6.) 

General Gates also wrote to Doctor Potts, as follows: 

"Ticonderoga August 12, iTjS. 
"Sir: I am informed that Baron de Woedtke^ some time before his death, made a solemn 
declaration to you of matter that highly concerns the interest of the United States. You will 
pleast forthwith communicate to me the substance of the Baron's declaration. The bearer, Mr. 
Lucas, has my orders to wait for your letter, and return with it immediately to me. 

"I would not wish to give unnecessary trouble; once a fortnight is full often enough to make 
general return of the Hospital. 

" I desire Dr. Stringer may come here as soon as he arrives at Fort George, and bring with him 
a Surgeon, properly provided for, for the Service of the fleet. 

" I am &c Horatio Gates. 

*'To Dr. Potts at Fort George." 

("Amer. Archives," Ser. v, Vol. i, p. 924.) 

The Baron used to say, very often : " Ah Liberdy is a fine ding, I like Liberdy : Der Koernig 
A'on Prusse is a great man for Liberdy." {^Ibid, p. 139.) 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 27 

Wilkinson revived, nevertheless, and lived to play an important part 
in connection with subsequent events. 

A letter from Ticonderoga, of August 5th, 1776, says that *' the sick, 
about one thousand five hundred, are at Fort George, and recruiting 
fast." ("Amer. Archives," Ser. v. Vol. i, p. 857.) 

The following official reports from Dr. Potts to General Gates 
throw much light upon the subject under consideration: 

"Fort George, August 8. 1776. 

"Honoured Sir: The return of the sick remaining in the General 
Hospital, which you were pleased to order to be made weekly, will be 
delivered to you by Captain Craig. I hope you will not attribute its 
late appearance at this time to any neglect on my part, as I can with 
truth assure your Honour nothing is left undone in my power to reduce 
every matter relative to the hospital into order. The number of the 
sick being great, they employ our whole time; and having but one clerk, 
who has to enter the names of every person admitted, discharged, died, 
or deserted, as well as to superintend the issuing of provisions, makes it 
almost impossible to comply with your orders so punctually as I would 
wish. 

" I am your Honour's obedient and very humble servant 

" JoNA. Potts." 

"Fort George Aug^ 24"^. 1776. 
"Honoured Sir: Your Honour's favour of the 23<i instant by Mr. 
Watson, I received this morning. I assure your Honour I have spared 
him from our Huckster's Shop every article in my power. What keeps 
Mr Henry with the Medicines I am at loss to know, I sent one of my 
Mates three days since to Albany to expedite his coming, and to pur- 
chase if possible some Articles we are wholly out of. I have also wrote 
to the Committee of Albany & Salisbury to send me as soon as possible 
all the old Linen Rags they can procure, as well as to recommend to 
the farmers & others to cure a quantity of Herbs for the use of the 
Hospital, it pains me much to think of our destitute situation, for should 
your Honour be attacked we have have not bandages or lint to dress fifty 

Again, Trumbull writes to Lieutenant-Colonel Gansevoort from Ticonderoga, July 31, 1776: 
"Sir: The bearer. Major Hubly, late Major of Brigade to General Woedtke, comes to take 
an inventory and appraisement of the late Baron Woedtke's goods. This you will permit him to 
do, and to bring such goods &c., as he shall think proper, with the will, to this place, where 
Colonel D'Haas proposes to administer on the Estate." 

The Baron stands poorly in Wilkinson's "Memoirs." Speaking of his meeting with the 
Baron in Philadelphia, a Roman Catholic prelate says : 

"Though I had frequently seen him before, yet he was so disguised in furs, that I scarce knew 
him, & never beheld a more laughable object in my life. Like other Prussian officers, he appears 
to me as a man who knows little of polite life, and yet has picked up so much of it in his passage 
through France, as to make a most awkward appearance." ("Life Arch. Bishop Carroll," 
p. 42.) 

Somewhere near Fort George, the remains of the poor Baron lie in their unknown grave. 



28 



NOTES ON THE 



men, I can with confidence assure your Honour nothing shall be left 
undone in my power to procure every necessary for the good of the 
Army in my Line of Duty — I heartily thank your Honour for your 
Orders respecting the Returns of the Regimental Surgeons,* as well as 
your approving my sentiments in regard to D"" Mc Crea — I was greatly 
surprised in having some patients sent here with the small-pox from the 
new levies. I have strictly examined them & cannot find that they 
have been inoculated, should I discover such a thing, shall be careful to 
transmit to your Honour every matter relative to it — as well as eff^ectually 
secure the patients. — One thing I would recommend to your Honour's 
Notice, which I hope you will not think foreign to my Duty, as the 
Army is greatly exposed to Intermittents & bilious complaints from their 
situation I am humbly of opinion it would conduce to their Health if 
every Man was allowed half a Gill of Bitter Rum p"" day, it can be 
made with four pounds of Gentian Root & two pounds of Orange peel 
to a Hogshead if these articles are not to be had, the Regimental Surgeons 

* Return of the sick of the General Hospital at Fort George, from the 12th to the 26th 
July, 1776, inclusive : 



REGIMENTS. 



Colonel Patterson's, 
Colonel Burrells', 
Colonel Bond's, 
Artillery, 

Colonel De Haas's, 
Colonel Bedel's, 
Colonel Reed's, 
Colonel Maxwell's, 
Colonel Porter's, 
Colonel Greaton's, . 
Colonel Wind's, 
Colonel Stark's, 
Batteau men. 
Artificers, 

Colonel Van Schaick's, 
Colonel Wynkoop's, 
Colonel Wayne's, 
Colonel Van Dykes , 
Colonel St. Clair's, 
Colonel Irvine's, 
Colonel Poor's, . 



men for Nurses, 
Total, 





a 






Q 


w 















H 








h 


< 






S 


X 




Q 


M 





^ 




H 


< 


Q 


Q 


D 


73 


26 


g 




164 


69 


8 


2 


116 


31 


3 


... 


56 


24 






118 


22 






21 


I 






127 


40 


3 




17^ 


«3 


5 


... 


59 


9 


3 




43 


15 


... 




129 


35 


5 




105 


6 


3 




2 








12 








113 


55 


5 




14 


3 






6 


4 






4 


I 






83 


13 







31 


2 


I 


I 


49 








1497 

1 


439 


51 


3 



39 
85 
82 

3^ 
95 
20 

84 
84 

47 
28 
89 
96 



53 



3 
64 

27 

49 



1004 
106 



(" Archives," Ser. v, Vol. i, p. 854. 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 



29 



can readily procure some Snake root, Centaury or Dogwood Bark, 
which will answer as nearly as well — Inclosed have sent your Honour 
the returns of the Hospital, on which I have only to observe, that we 
have a greater Number than appears from the return, owing to the names 
being struck out from the Hospital Book but I still detain them under 
the name of convalescents, who will be sent forward in a day or two. 
I have taken the Liberty to send your Honour a tolerably good weather 
& a Cask with some Beans, squashes, Cucumbers & a itvf small 
Melons, the moment I can procure any good vinegar it shall be for- 
warded to you. 

"I am your Honours most Obedient & very humble Servant 

"JoNN. Potts." 
(Gates' MSB. in N. Y. Hist. Society, p. 178.) 

About this time, there came to be a feeling of general alarm, and 
Gates wrote to Schuyler, Sept. 6th, that he would be obliged if he would 
"immediately reinforce For; George with all the troops that be spared 
from Albany." As there were too few men to forward provisions over 
the lake, he would send Colonel Phinney's New Hampshire Regiment 
to the fort "to batteau the flour thence." 

Sept. 18, Major Carnes wrote to Gates, from Fort George, "the 
sickness here rather abates." There was, also, an insufficiency of men. 

Oct. I, Schuyler wrote to Gates on the strength of information sent 
him by General Washington: 

"It is probable that a blow is meditated on the communication. The 
Garrison at Fort George* is too weak to encounter a vigorous attack, 
and as the fate of the army depends on the regularity of the supplies, 
you will please detach a battalion to its support, which may again join 
you in time, should General Arnold be unable to keep the Lake. A 
sufficiency of batteaus should for that purpose be kept at Fort George." 
("Amer. Archives," Ser. v. Vol. 11, p. 833.) 

Oct. II, Dayton's regiment was ordered to Fort George with des- 
patch. 

Oct. 15th, the New York Committee of Safety requested liberty of 
the Continental Congress "to send a Commissary to Ticonderoga and 
Fort George, in order to take Charge" of the hides wasted at those 
posts. {Ibid^ p. 250.) 

* " Meeting of the Committee with General Schuyler & Lieut Col Gansevoort Saraytoga 
" 22^. October 1 776 
" lit. Marked the Officers fit for service. 
" ind. Agreed to appoint Col Van Shaick's Regiment to recruit: 

" Capt Andrew Fink 1 

*' Lieut Charles Parsons >■ at Fort George" 

" Ensign John Deuny J 

(" New York Miss. Papers.") 



^Q NOTES ON THE 

The following shows how certain Tories had busied themselves with a 
futile scheme for the seizure of Fort George. It is the "Information 
of Stephen Ketchem," under date of October 29th : 

"The Information of Stephen Ketchem, who saith 

"that on Friday last he saw one Simen Warner, and after Common 
Complyments Said to this Informer I suppose I may say anything, upon 
which this Informer Replyed you may. then said Warner, last night I 
saw Barret Dyre in New Britton, and said Warner Said, it was orders 
from an Officer above for the tories to form Themselves into a Body, 
for they expected when our Ermy got Defeated at the northward, the 
wigs would destroy all the tories they could find, and that the tories 
where to imbody for Defence, this informer further says he was with 
the said Warner yesterday and told the Said Warner he came on pur- 
pose to see him, and wanted to know if there was any way to escape to 
the Kings Army to which the said Warner Replyed there was no other 
to Escape but to go over the North river and so round to our Ermy. 
this informer asked the said Warner if Barret lived some time in New 
Britton, and sometimes north of that place with Pallmatire. The said 
Warner told this Informer that they (the tories) had but a ievf guns 
now, but that Dyer told him they expected some up the North river, 
this Informer asked the said Warner, if he could go to Dyer, he said he 
thought not for he changed his headquarters often, the said Warner 
told this Informer that Pallmatier was with Dyre the day before he saw 
Dyre. this Informer asked Warner how Dyre and the rest of the tories 
lived, he said about and amongst the rest of their friends, this Informer 
says Warner further told him that Dyre kept in the woods there till 
Day light, then came a Cross the Mountains, and by Captain Baldwins 
and to me good fellows (who is a Corporal in the Grenadier Company) 
and when he the said Dyre got to good fellows he whistled and good 
fellows came to him. the said Warner told this Informer that' John 
Savage had with him about five hundred men, and that they had dis- 
armed our Colb of the Militia, and taken some guns and other war- 
like store from him. the said Warner told this Informer that there 
had been a Post Ridder kept from Army to Army Viz the Kings 
Armies but lately had been broke up. the Said Warner told this In- 
former that there was no orders. Particularly now for the tories from 
Kings Army. But as soon as our headquarters were smash<i the tories 
would then have orders what to do. this Informer asked the said War- 
ner what they would do as to guns, we the tories will have them all in 
the district, for he look^ up it there was tories enough in this Govern- 
ment to manage what wigs there were in the same, the Said Warner 
told this Informer the tories had orders to March in this Alarm to the 
northward in the name of Congress men and to draw Provisions until 
they got to Fort George, and then take possession of the same and keep 
it. the said Warner further said that there would be tories enough 
going to the Kings Army, If the Militia came back, for that would be 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 



3' 



their Orders. If any torie was going to be Carryed ofF only let him 
Know of It, and there should not a man be carried off, for they would 
be resqued. and further this Informer saith that Warner told this In- 
former, If he would come on the hill and Wisstull he would show the 
Informer People that knew better where Dyre was than he did. the 

said Warner told this Informer that John Briggs & wait that lived 

with Brigs, was good friends, and that Joseph Chapman could go throu 
the woods, meaning as this Informer supposes to the Kings Army. 

"Signed Stephen Ketchem." 
(" New York Mil. Corr.," 25 : 349.) 

Oct. 30th, Schuyler says: "the movements of the tories in this 
quarter give me great reason to suppose that the enemy intended to 
penetrate by the Mohawk river, or to throw themselves on some part of 
the communication between this and Fort George." (" Archives," 
Ser. V. Vol. i, p. 582.) 

Nov. ist, General Schuyler wrote to the New York Convention that, 
in case the army went into winter quarters, a garrison of four hundred 
would be left at Fort George. 

General Schuyler also wrote, from Saratoga, to President of Con- 
tinental Congress: "I hope by Sunday next to have two thousand bar- 
rels of flour at the north end of Lake George and Ticonderoga," and 
that " Colonel Stark's and Colonel Poor's regiments, with that lately 
belonging to Brigadier Reed (the three amount to about five hundred 
men) came across Lake George. Two of the regiments I have left at 
Fort George to forward on the provisions." 

Nov. 2d, Schuyler, at Albany, requested Gates to " hasten the regi- 
ment to Fort George," as he was afraid that Carlton was seeking to dis- 
lodge the Americans from Ticonderoga. But, on the 9th of this month, 
Gates wrote to Colonel Gansevoort, at Fort George, that "there was 
not an enemy within a hundred miles of the post." The proposed 
attack was every way made light of. 

Gersham Mott, at Johnstown, writing the 5th of this month to Colonel 
Lamb, at West Point, says: "Our accounts from Tie are, that Carl- 
ton's army are within five miles, and expect them to attack Every 
Day." (Lamb's MSS.) Yet the attack did not take place. 

Nov. iith, Schuyler wrote to Washington tiiat he had not over four 
hundred men at Fort George. 

Thus, with but a handful of men at this post, winter again came on, 
while the enlistments expired Dec. 3rst, and he was obliged to say that 
he feared that they could not be prevailed upon to remain after that date. 
Still the patriots persevered, and Colonel Van Schaick used his best 
efforts to reorganize his command. The following, addressed to Robert 
Yates, shows what he accomplished: 

"Albany y^«««ry 8"^ 1777- 
*' Gentlemen: In my last to the Committee I sent a list of Officers 



^, NOTES ON THE 

in the first Battalion who had declined the service. I also Recommend 
Lieut Nathaniel Henry and have by the General's approbation ap- 
pointed him Lieut advanc'd him money, he has already inlisted near 
his Complement of men and is vi^ith them gone on Service to Fort 
George, so that the Committee I hope will not fail of appointing him. 

*'I have also recommended Guy Young & Henry Defendorf for 
Lieuts ; for Ensigns Jonathan Brown, Thomas Hicks, Jacob Ja. 

Klock, James Bennett, Pecke Recommended by Col. Van 

Dyck: Ensigns Brown & Hicks have been on the Recruiting Service 
these four Weeks I wish to receive the approbation of the Committee 
Soon. A Surgeon ought to be appointed without the least loss of tii;pe 
& sent to me that I may forward him to Fort George, where part oi 
the Regiment is Stationed. I am with perfect Esteem. 

"Your & the Committee's Most H^'l^ Serv<: 

"Goose Van Schaick." 
("N. Y. Miss. Papers," 38: 443.) 

Feb. 2, Colonex Van Schaick writes again : 

" At Fort George there is a detachment of nearly two hundred men 
of mine; many of them are daily falling sick, who with the help of the 
medicines at that post, and a Surgeon's care, might be enabled in a short 
time to perform their duties." 

Of one. Captain Cobb, he says, that he ordered him "on immediate 
service with the men under his command, to Fort George, where he 
has continued ever since with a considerable part of his company." He 
is pronounced a very faithful and efficient officer. ("Cor. N. Y. Prov. 
Congress," p. 374.) 




HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 



33 




CHAPTER V. 




INTER FINALLY WORE AWAY, 
and spring returned, finding the garrison at Fort 
George unmolested. In the meanwhile, motives 
of prudence dictated the re-establishment of the 
hospital at Fort George ; and, under date of 
April 3d, 1777, Dr, Potts writes to General 
Gates: "I arrived in this city the day before 
General Schuyler left on his way to Philad : He 
has ordered to establish the General Hospital 
at Fort George instead of Mount Independence." 

At a later day, the following was addressed to Gates, the writer having 
in view the enforcement of stricter discipline: 

"Fort George May 4"^ 1777. 
"HoNBLE Sir 

"I beg leave to inform your Honour, that there are 
several Men of Col. Van Schaicks Regiment confined for Crimes not 
triable by a Regimental Court Martial, one for Desertion and the other 
for attempting to desert themselves and advising and persuading others 
to do the like, and as Examples are necessary to be made in the Pres- 
ence of the Corps the Criminals belong to — I request your Honour to 
order a Court for their Trial — if you should judge it improper to order 
the Court to sit at this place, I should be glad to have your Honours 
Orders what to do with the Criminals — 

"I have forwarded the cannon and ■ Artillery Stores to Ticon- 

deroga, and am now busy to transport the Provisions a cross — 
"I have the Honour to be with 
"Great Esteem 

*'Your very Hble Serv* 

" C. V. Dyck. 
"Honbie Majr Geni Gates." (Gates' MSS., p. 70,) 

The spring passed in turmoil, and midsummer brought the invasion 
of Burgoyne. General Patterson, writing to General Gates, from Ti- 
conderoga. May 5, 1777, says: 

c 



34 



NOTES ON THE 



'' By a Scout which this Day Returned I have Certain advice of a 
party of Indians &c. Who have come up the Lake as far as Crown 
point. And by their Tracts Taken there Rout towards Lake George — 
In Consequence of which Captain Whitcomb with one hundred men 
has gone in pursuit of them, upon whose Return I hope to have the 
satisfaction of Giving You a good Account of." (Gates' MSS., p. 105.) 

The next document is from Gen. Wilkinson, and refers to the com- 
mander at Fort George : 

Fort George, May ii*^ i777« 
" Dear & honor» Sir 

" I arrived here last Evening and am obliged to wait 
this Day for the returns of this Garrison. I set out for Tyconderoga 
Tomorrow Morning with Major Hull's detachment which will be here 
this evening. 

" It is with pleasure I retract my apprehension respecting a detention 
of Stores at F. Edward, I find the A. Q"" M: at that Post to be one of 
the few who make the Public Interest a first object, and therefore exerts 
Himself for His Country; The Cap' McCrackin who Commands here 
wou<^ figure better on a Scout than as a Commanding Officer; instead 
of cooperating with. He Counteracts the Measures of, the Q. M: & 
Comsy, however as his Conduct is the result rather of Ignorance than 
design and as He is a brave Man who may be Serviceable in His way, 
they only wish to have Him removed, as the Command would then 
devolve on an active and judicious officer. 

"T'was 111 natured. 111 judged and impolitic to remove Genl Wayne 
from Tyconderoga. All the accounts which I now meet from that 
Post are blacken^i by despair the Child of Terror. Imaginations big 
with apprehension may easily form an Indian in a Stump, Picture a 
floating Chunk for a Batteaux full of men. I hope my efforts may be 
of some Service as they shall not be spared — Inclosed you have the 
Commissary & Commanding officers returns at Ft Edward, as also the 
ordinance Stores & A Q^ Masters at this Place The Garrison and 
Commissary returns I shall enclose you Tomorrow. And am 
"My Dear Geni 

'*'Your most obliged 

" Obdt & ready Serv* 

"James Wilkinson. 

"The Commissary has this Minute produced His return, as also the 
strength of the Garrison both which you have inclosed 

"J. W." 
(Gates' MSS.) 

June 28, Schuyler wrote to Washington, from Albany, that should 
*' General Burgoyne make a push to gain the south part of the Lake, I 
know of no obstacle to prevent him: comparatively speaking, I have 
not a man to oppose him ; the whole number at the different posts & 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 



35 



on this side of the lake, including Fort George & Skeensborough, not 
exceeding seven hundred men." [Ibid., p, 462.) 

June 26, St. Clair writes to Schuyler, that a very large party was 
reported on the west side of the lake "to fall upon Fort George." 
They were said to consist of a thousand Indians and Canadians. [Ibid.^ 
p. 465.) 

We have nothing more to present, in connection with the fort, until 
we reach the period of Burgoyne's actual approach. We find that, as 
he advanced over Lake Champlain, the alarm increased. Hence the 
following, written at Fort Edward, by General Schuyler to Washington : 

"I am here at the head of a handful of men, not above fifteen 
hundred, without provision, with little ammunition, not above five 
rounds to a man, having neither balls, nor lead to make any; the 
country in the deepest consternation; no carriages to remove the stores 
from Fort George, which I expect every moment to learn is attacked." 
("Washington's Writings," Vol. iv, p. 492.) 

According to their anticipations, the Americans were forced to 
retreat, first from Ticonderoga, and then from Fort George. Dr. 
Potts reached Albany, and from thence addressed General Gates, as 
follows : 

" My Dear General, 

"Your very affectionate letter by John Keys came 
fortunately safe to my hands — give me leave to assure you it was a 
Cordial to my then drooping spirits — I scarce know what to say in 
respect to the late retreat, one thing however I firmly believe that 
Geni St. Clair will with the Candid & impartiall still be considered the 
Great Soldier Honest Man even after the most narrow scrutiny — With 
regard to a certain General who was not on the Spot — the Clamors of 
the People are great indeed & in case of an attack from the Enemy 
God only knows the consequence. — The army are now at a place called 
Moses's Creek having Evacuated Fort Edward, the militia as usual 
desert by Regiments, if this part of the Continent is really to be 
defended, it must be in my humble opinion by a considerable supply of 
Continental Troops — . A strong party of the enemy are at Castleton 
in the Grants with Govorner Skene at their Head cajoling the Inhabi- 
tants & I fear meet with too much success — Col: Warner is also there 
with a party of Militia to watch their motions — In Short My Dear 
General I look upon our present situation to be a critical one indeed, 
but I still hope your Warm prayer will be heard & our Rightious Cause 
not suffered to perish because Sinners are concerned in the defence of 
it — . Your Friends are well and at Camp which I left yesterday. 
The Indians are daily scalping around the camp even below Fort Ed- 
ward . — I send this by Express by return if your business would 



36 



NOTES ON THE 



admit, I should be happy to receive a line from you. — My most 
affectionate compliments to your good Family & believe me to be 

*'My Dear General your 
"much obliged & most humble 
"Servt 

"JoNN Potts. 
"Albany July iS'^ i777- 

"P; S: I fortunately saved the bulk of my medicine, have my 
Hospital here, another at Saratoga & the third at Camp, the army are 
very Healthy, the vi^hole of the Sick & urounded not exceeding 200. 

" Jufy 28"'' 8 o'clock A: M: 

^'A letter from Col: Lewis this moment arrived mentions that last 
evening a party of the Enemy of about looo attacked our Picquet near 
Fort Edward of 150 men drove them in Kill'd five men among whom 
is a Lieut: they also Kill'd a young Lady Dr McCrea's Sister all of 
whom they scalped & butchered."* (Gates' MSS., p. 39.) 

The scene having now changed, the English aurhorities are now able 
to contribute something to the history of Fort George. 

It appears that, when St. Clair's retreat of July 6th became known. 
Major Yates, who was in command at Fort George, marched away to 
Fort Edward with seven hundred men, carrying his baggage and stores, 
and setting the fort on fire. This took place July 16th. Burgoyne, 
who was then moving victoriously southward, thus writes of the affair: 

"The garrison of Fort George in manifest danger of being cut off by 
the direct movement from Skenesborough to Hudson's River, took the 
measure I expected of abandoning the Fort, and burning the vessels, 
thereby leaving the lake entirely free. A detachment of the King's 
Troops from Ticonderoga, which I had ordered to be ready for that 
event, with a great embarkation of provisions, passed the lake on the 
same day that I took possession of this communication by land." 

General Schuyler justified the abandonment of Fort George ; on 
which point Washington, when writing, suspended his own opinion, 
remarking that others had informed him, "that a spirited, brave, judi- 
cious officer, with two or three hundred good men, together with the 
armed vessels vou have built, would retard Burgoyne's passage across 
the Lake for a considerable time, if not render it impracticable, and 
oblige him to take a more difficult and circuitous route." 

To this Schuyler replies : 

"The fort was part of an unfinished bastion of an intended fortifica- 
tion. The bastion was closed at the gorge. In it was a barrack capable 

* It is, perhaps, hardly necessary to delay here to remark that the whole question in regard to 
the death of this unfortunate young woman, is one involved in doubt. Whether she was killed 
by accident or design is not clear to all. 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. ^^ 

of containing between thirty and fifty men ; without ditch, without wall, 
without cistern; without any picket to prevent an enemy from running 
over the wall. So small, as not to contain above one hundred and fifty 
men, commanded by ground greatly overlooking it, and within point 
blank shot; and so situated that five hundred men may lie between the 
bastion and the Lake, without being seen from this extremely defensible 
fortress. Of vessels built there, one was afloat and tolerably fitted ; the 
others still upon the stocks ; but, if the two had been upon the water, 
they would have been of but little use, without rigging and guns." 
("Washington's Writings," Vol. iv, p. 494.) 

This was clearly a time of very great depression and distress. Gov- 
erneur Morris, in writing to John Jay in regard to the trials of Valley 
Forge in 1780, suddenly turns from the spectacle, saying, "But I have 
seen Fort George in the summer of 1777." ("Life," Vol. i, p. 154.) 

The air was filled with rumors, and the wagons sent to Fort George 
to bring away stores were reported "cut off," which aroused Schuyler, 
who marched to the rescue with five hundred men. This episode is 
thus told: 

"Head Quarters, Fort Edward, July i^th., ^777- 
"Gentlemen — A report having been propagated here a few hours 
ago, that a number of wagons, which had been sent this morning to 
Fort George to remove some stores from that place, had been cut oft 
by a large party of the enemy's Indians, General Schuyler immedi- 
ately marched with a body of troops towards Fort George. On his 
way he received a letter from Colonel Ashley, who commands at the 
Five Mile Run, of which the enclosed is a copy ; by that it seems the 
enemy's numbers must have been very inconsiderable, as we had near a 
hundred wagons on the road, and we cannot learn that they have been 
molested. 

*' I am, gent, respectfully, 

"Your most humble servant, 

"John Lansing, Junr." 
("J. N. Y. Prov. Congress," Vol. 11, p. 112.) 

July 16, Govcrneur Morris writes from Fort Edward: "Fort Ann 
is abandoned, & Fort George will be so by tomorrow this time, if not 
sooner taken." He says, also, in a postscript: "If we get our stores 
from Lake George, & accomplish a safe retreat to this place * * our 
affairs will wear a more smiling aspect." 

The next day he wrote again from Saratoga : 

"I left Fort Edward with Gen. Schuyler at noon, and shall return 
thither some time to-morrow morning. Fort George was destroyed 
yesterday afternoon, previous to which, the provisions, stores, batteaux, 
&c. were removed, and this morning about ten o'clock the last of them 
passed us about three miles to the northward of Fort Edward, at which 



38 



NOTES ON THE 



place all the troops from the lake have arrived, and these, together with 
some others, from our advanced post towards Fort George; about 
twelve hundred, perhaps more, are somewhat farther advanced upon 
the road to Fort Anne. The enemy have not yet made any motion 
that we know of, nor indeed can they make any of consequence until 
they shall have procured carriages, and then they may find it rather dif- 
ficult to come .this way, if proper care be taken to prevent them from 
procuring forage. For this purpose, I shall give it as my opinion to the 
General, whenever he asks it, to break up all the settlements upon our 
northern frontier, to drive off the cattle, secure or destroy the forage, 
&c; and also to destroy the saw mills. These measures, harsh as they 
may seem, are, I am confident, absolutely necessary. They ought 
undoubtedly to be taken with prudence, and temperately carried into 
execution. But I will venture to say, that if we lay it down as a 
maxim, never to contend for ground but in the last necessity, to leave 
nothing but a wilderness to the enemy, their progress must be impeded 
by obstacles which it is not in human nature to surmount; and then, 
unless we have with our usual good nature, built posts for their defence, 
they must at the approach of winter retire to the place from whence 
they at first set out. The militia from the eastward come in by degrees, 
and I expect we shall soon be in force to carry on the petite guerre to 
advantage, provided always, Burgoyne attempts to annoy us, for it is 
pretty clear that we cannot get at him." (" New York Congress," 
Vol. II, p. 508.) 

The garrison at Fort George had a somewhat narrow escape, as 
appears from a minute dated, in camp at Fort Edward, Aug. 6. 1777 : 

"Very fortunately for the garrison at Fort George, they had passed 
this place about an hour before our arrival; had they been that much 
later, they must have been inevitably cut off." ("Anbury's Travels," 
Vol. I, p. 363.) 

Burgoyne clearly aimed at the capture of the garrison, as, on the nth 
of July, he wrote to Sir Guy Carlton: 

" My present purpose. Sir, is to get a sufficient number of Gunboats 
upon the Lake George to scour that Lake as expeditiously as possible, 
to support them them with a proper force to attack Fort George on that 
side, while with the main army, as soon as refreshed and supplied, I 
attack Fort Edward from hence [Skenesborough] and thereby cut off" 
the communication from Albany to Fort George, & consequently pre- 
vent the succour or retreat of that garrison." (" Burgoyne's Report," 

Ap. XLII.) 

Evidently Burgoyne considered this an important point. We find 
that the enemy had accurate knowledge of everything of consequence 
in relation to the positions and the fortifications. 

Fort George, wrongly called "Fort Edward," is thus described in 
Riedesel's papers of 1777, at a time when the Americans were still in 
posssssion: 



ri 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. -g 

*'ist. The citadel has been recently repaired and provided with two 
nine pounders. It contains, also, twelve cannon, which are not yet 
mounted. Barracks for i,ooo men lie within twenty yards east of it. 

"2d. Close to the shore is a large magazine in which there is an 
abundance of provisions. 

"3d. To the west of this magazine, where Fort William Henry 
formerly stood, is a large hospital, a building of great dimensions, & 
used for the sick from Fort Carrillon.* This is said to be surrounded 
by palisades, and to have a small redoubt on the hill south of it. A 
strong guard is posted here every night. The rebels at Fort George 
are very busy cutting down trees & carrying them to the shore, to be 
used in the construction of six strong vessels on the lake. A so-called 
Commodore Wyncoop, is said still to be in command at this post; only 
one regiment, it is further said, remains here during the summer; but as 
yet there are only 400 men there. There is also considerable scarcity 
of ammunition." ("Riedesel's Journal," Vol. i, p. 295.) 

As Burgoyne himself relates, a British force passed over Lake George 
and took possession of the fort on the day it was deserted by the Ameri- 
cans. Whoever may have commanded this detachment at the time, 
Colonel Anstruther appears to have held Fort George, where he after- 
wards received the Baroness Riedesel,'!' the wife of the general, when on 
her way to join her husband in Burgoyne's army. 

The materials for this period are exceedingly scanty, as no one 
appears to have been interested in compiling notes. 

* The French name of Ticonderoga, meaning a chime, and given on account of the music of 
the Fall, which are of considerable height. 

f The Baroness says, in her Journal : "The following day passed Ticonderoga, and about noon 
arrived at Fort George, where we dined with Colonel Anstruther, an exceedingly good and 
amiable man, who commands the 6zd regiment. In the afternoon we seated ourselves in a 
calash, & reached Fort Edward on the same day, which was the 14th of August." (MunscU'i 
Reprint, p. 91.) 




40 



NOTES ON THE 




CHAPTER VI. 



1 


4 



the removal.' 



URNING AGAIN to " Riedesel's Journal" we 
take the following: '*On the 15th July General 
Riedesel was ordered to Ticonderoga to superin- 
tend the removal of Ships to Lake George. Of 
the two regiments yet remaining at Ticonderoga 
— the tid English and Prince Frederick's — one 
half of each, under the command of Colonel 
Anstruther and iVlajor Von Hiller, was to cover 
{Ihid^ p. 124.) 



"26 July. The Ships & baggage were to be transported by Canadians 
to Lake George, & thence to Fort Edward on the Hudson River." 
[Ibid, p. 124.) 

July 31. "General Phillips — having accomplished the rerhoval of the 
Stores and artillery from Ticonderoga — had arrived at Fort George, and 
was busily engaged in building a road from that fort to Fort Edward." 
[Ibid, p. 125.) 

''Camp near Fort Edward. Aug 5. 1777. 
"An Officer and 20 men with Non Commission Officers in propor- 
tion from the Line will conduct all the prisoners taken from the Enemy 
to Fort George, to-morrow morning." ("Burgoyne's Order Book," 
p. 64.) 

"Camp near Fort Edward. Aug. 6 1777. 
" Four companies will embark at Fort George in the First return 
Boats, and the remaining four companies are to wait for the boats that 
bring the 62d Regiment from Ticonderoga." [Ibid, p. 68.) 

Aug. 9th. " Brigadier Powell was ordered to take with him the 53d 
Regiment and relieve Brigadier Hamilton at Ticonderoga : at the same 
time the 62d. was ordered to rejoin the army. The company of Cana- 
dian Militia, under Boucherville, was to remain at Fort George." [Ibidy 
p. 126.) 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 



41 



Aug. 17. Burgoyne "entrusted to Riedesel the duty of maintaining 
communication with Fort Anne and Fort George." 

Aug. 31. Burgoyne says, though with some misapprehension in 
regard to the facts of the case, that, 

" Regarding Fort George, it is my intention to leave there four com- 
panies of the 47th Regiment, two of which will occupy the fort, & the 
remainder the island three miles distant from the land. I take it for 
granted that the fort is safe against surprise, no matter how strong the 
attacking party may be. In case of assault, the garrison can still retreat 
through the open ditch, to the island, whither the enemy can never go, 
being destitute of ships, while we, on the contrary, have gunboats.'* 
{Ibid, p. 274.) 

The officer placed in command, in accordance with this resolution, 
as we shall see further on, was Lieutenant Irwine. 

Sept. 1st. All the heavy baggage of Burgoyne's army was sent back to 
Ticonderoga. "Those articles, however, which might be most needed, 
were only sent back as far as Diamond Island in Lake George — seven 
[three?] miles from Fort George — that they might be close at hand in 
case of need. At the same time two companies of the 47 Regiment 
were sent with them as a garrison ; only thirty men & one officer being 
left at Fort George, as the communication with that lake was to be 
given up for the present. In pursuance of this plan the two companies 
of the 53d. Regiment, which had been hitherto stationed at Fort George, 
were sent to Ticonderoga to reinforce that post." (" Riedesel's Journal," 
P- 134-) 

On Sept. 3d, "Riedesel left Fort George for the purpose of expediting 
the transports for the army." 

Sept. 10, Burgoyne again writes, "The last [secret] orders have 
been given to have nothing remain in Fort George. The last of the 
wagons will accordingly pass Fort Edward Either tomorrow evening or 
Friday morning." In the same letter, he says, that General St. Leger 
had been obliged to retreat to Oswego, and was expected at the lake, 
adding, "I have sent him orders as to the necessary measures of pre- 
caution he is to take upon arriving on the island at the lower end of 
Lake George." [Ibid, p.. 275.) 

Sept. iith. General Riedesel "was very much occupied in transport- 
ing stores from Fort George to Fort Edward, whence they were carried 
down the Hudson." ("Journal," Vol. i, p. 138.) 

In the meanwhile, a movement was planned by the American Gen- 
eral Lincoln to make an important raid upon Burgoyne's rear. The 
plan of the enterprise is sketched in a letter from Lincoln to General 
Gates : 



42 



NOTES ON THE 



"Pawlet September li^th. 1 777. 
*'Dear General, noon. 

"I just now received your favor of yesterdays date. By 
a scout which hath been near Fort Edward, and from one of the Inhabi- 
tants in that neighbourhood, I have a confirmation of the enemy's 
movements mentioned in your letter. I think it is most probable, their 
design is on your post; however, I will keep the most watchful eye 
over them, and, if possible, prevent a surprise. 

"On being informed, by almost every person who came in, as well 
as by letter you inclosed me from General Palmer, of the weak state of 
Ticonderoga ; and also advices that a considerable number of our men 
were prisoners in the enemy's hands, and kept at Lake George landing, 
under a very small guard; at which place the enemy had a large Maga- 
zine of stores; and supposing a movement that way, would perfectly 
coincide with the original design, of my being here; vizt. if possible, to 
divide and distract the enemy; — was induced yesterday, with the advice 
of the officers, to send Colonel Brown, with five hundred men, to the 
landing at Lake George, to relieve the prisoners, and distroy the stores 
there, — the same number of men under Colonel Johnson, to mount 
independence; the latter to give a divertion to the enemy, while the 
former should execute his commission; and if an opportunity should 
offer, without risking too much, to push for mount independence, while 
Colonel Browne would attempt Ticonderoga — and further, to amuse, 
and divide the enemy, by attacking their out posts &c. — alike number 
of men were sent under Colonel Woodbridge, to skeensboro, thence to 
Fort Ann, and on towards fort Edward. — I hope these movements will 
meet your approbation; I should have mentioned y^ design before, and 
not put the plan in execution, without your advice, could I have been 
sure the information would not have fallen into the hands of the enemy. — 
I suppose you intended to hint to me your apprehension of danger in this 
way, and that I must be cautious what I wrote, when in the close of 
your favor of the lO^^ instant you say: 'I desire you will not fail, fre- 
quently to acquaint me with your movements, and, as far as is prudent, 
with your designs.' 

"I am dear General with sincere regard 

"Your most obedient and humble servant. 

"B : Lincoln. 
"The Honble Major Geni Gates." (Gates' MSS.) 

At Ticonderoga Colonel Brown accomplished considerable ; even as 
when he first proved his courage at the capture of the place. May 10, 
1775, by bravely supporting Benedict Arnold, who was the first man to 
enter the fort. At the beginning of this the second attack. Brown 
was again successful, but, in the end, he was obliged to abandon the 
enterprise, and retire with his trophies and the American prisoners whom 
he had succeeded in liberating. But not yet satisfied, he resolved to 
make an attack first upon Diamond Island, and afterwards upon Fort 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 40 

George, using for this purpose the vessels captured from the British at 
the north end of the lake, an event that Burgoyne never anticipated. 
The results of this movement are given by Burgoyne, who writes: 

"On the 24th instant, the enemy upon Lake George attacked Dia- 
mond Island in two divisions. Captain Aubrey* and two companies of 
the 47th regiment had been posted at that island from the time the army 
passed the Hudson River, as a better security for the stores at the south 
end of Lake George than Fort George, which is on the continent, and 
not tenable against artillery and numbers. The enemy were repulsed 
by Captain Aubrey with great loss, and pursued by the gunboats under 
his command, to the east shore, where two of their principal vessels 
were retaken, together with all the cannon. They had just time to set 
fire to the other batteaux, and retreated over the mountain." f 

Brown arranged the plan of the attack with skill, but the artillery of 
the British was too powerful for the sides of his little lake craft, and he 
was obliged to retreat, though with a trifling, instead of "great loss," as 
Burgoyne phrased it. 

It must be remarked, however, as a singular fact, that the fullest 
published account of the "Life of Colonel Brown," an able and meri- 
torious officer, makes no allusion to this affair at Diamond Island, but 
represents that he was ordered to Fort George to release the American 
prisoners there, when the prisoners, whom Colonel Brown happily lib- 
erated, were confined at Ticonderoga. 

As an account of the history of this campaign is not included in the 
plan of these "Notes," it will be sufficient to say that, eventually, 
defeat crowned the efforts of Burgoyne, and his army was surrendered 
to General Gates. | 

The small force of British that now remained on Lake George after 
the surrender of their chief withdrew to Ticonderoga, where General 
Powell held command. 

Nov. I. Samuel Herrick, colonel commanding at Pawlet, attacked 
Powell in his stronghold at Mount Independence, with the following 
characteristic letter : 

"Pawlet Nov i' 1777. 

*«Sir: 

"By the time this comes to hand, I hope you will have recovered 
from the surprise with which you have been repeatedly effected since my 

* Thomas Aubrey, second son of Sir Thomas Aubrey, of Glanborganshire, entered the army as 
ensign in 1762, and served in Florida. He was at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and was made a 
major in 1782, and afterwards rose to the rank of colonel. He died, January 15, 1814. 

i " Burgoyne's Report," App. liii. For the/a// account of this transaction, with the original 
reports, see the author's paper on "The Battle of Diamond Island," now about being published 
in a separate form. 

J Two days before the surrender of Burgoyne, Sept. 15, being then at Fort Edward, David 
How says, in his "Diary:" "This morning our Scouts Brought in upwards of 50 Indians that 
were made prisoners Yesterday Near Fort George — They had With them Silver & Gold And a 
Number of Blankets And other Valuable Bagege." (" Diary," p. 48.) 



.. NOTES ON THE 

44 

correspondence with you — You Impute my conduct to Ignorance of the 
rules of War, I hope Sir I have not been Guilty of 111 manners 

"if you please sir, I am ready to conclude the Trifling correspondence 
with you provided you will Quit the Ground immediately, on which you 
now pretend to teach me military rules, Otherwise I shall endeavour to 
convince you at the Head of my Green Mountain Boys, That your 
dominion is but Temporary 

"I am sincerely sir 

"Your most Humble Serv* 

"Saml Herrick Cob Comd 
'* To the Honorable Brigadier Genl Powel Commanding at mount 
independence." ("Gates' MSS.) 

General Powell, however, does not appear to have been greatly 
alarmed by the "Green Mountain Boys," whom he estimated by his 
own ideas of value; yet, when he found that he could no further sup- 
port the sinking cause of the King by holding his position, he retired to 
the North. Herrick, however, supposed that General Powell believed 
him "serious," and that the belief caused a "precipitate" retreat. 
Probably what the general feared was another letter. But we must 
allow Herrick to tell his own story. 

**PowLET November 14'-^ 1777' 

"Sir 

"I have the pleasure to inform you, that the Enemy have aban- 
doned Tyconderoga Mount Independence &c on sattarday Last After 
dimolishing all the Fortifications, Bridges, Burning all the Houses, and 
destroying all stores Cannon &c. which they could not bring off, — their 
retreat was precipitate inded, as appears by many circumstances. 

"A few days before I was informed by deserters that their shipping 
and a number of Boats were Loaded for St. Johns, who had orders to 
return immediately to fetch more Loading . — About that time I 
ordered Capt. Hem" Allen with 60 Rangers down to Lake Champlain 
with orders to Take two Armed vessels by stratagem, and to secure 
what provisions, Forage &c. he could, Capt. Allen was join'd by Capt. 
Ln at Rutland, and a considerable number of the Inhabitants & 

hunters a few days after which enlarged Capt. Aliens ditachments to 
about 200 men. 

"I suppose they had not yet recovered from the surprise which my 
letter of Nov is* occasioned them, when Capt Aliens detachment was, 
discovered on the Lake a few days After, which made them suppose I 
was serious [x/V] in my hinted projects, and being afraid, that their retreat 
would be cut off at the Narrows, they immediately began their retreat 
on the 2^ Instant and finished the whole on Sattarday Last, 

"Major Wait is gone with 75 men to cake possession and to secure 
Stores, Cattle, Horses, &c boats, if the enemy have left any. Capt. 
Allen is now harrassing the Enemies rear, endeavoring to take some 
^catring boats. 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 



45 



"The Coast is now clear and the season is far advanced and nothing 
more is to be feared from the Enemy in this Quarter til Spring." 
***** (Gates' MSS., Vol. ii, p. 5.) 

Military criticism is the proper work of soldiers, and yet it may be 
allowable to advert briefly to the reasons that led Burgoyne to choose 
the route by South Bay in preference to that of Fort George. Here, 
therefore, let us insert Burgoyne's own defence. He writes: 

" Question has been made by those who began at this period to arraign 
my military conduct, whether it would not have been more expedient 
for the purpose of rapidity, to have fallen back to Ticonderoga, in order 
to take the convenient route by Lake George, than to have persevered 
in the laborious & difficult course by land to Fort Edward. My motives 
for preferring the latter were these: I considered not only the general 
impressions which a retrograde motion is apt to make upon the minds of 
both enemies & friends, but also, that the natural conduct of the Enemy 
in that case would be to remain at Fort George, as their retreat could 
not then be cut off, in order to oblige me to open trenches, and conse- 
quently to delay me, and in the meantime they would have destroyed 
the road from Fort George to Fort Edward. On the other hand, by 
persisting to penetrate by the short cut from Fort Anne, of which I was 
then master, to Fort Edward, though it was attended with great labor, 
and many alert situations, the troops were improved in the very essen- 
tial point of wood service; I effectully dislodged the Enemy from Fort 
George without a blow; and seeing me master of one communication, 
they did not think it worth while to destroy the other." (" Burgoyne's 
Report," p. 12.) 

It is clear, from what he says about opening trenches, that he knew 
nothing of the real indefensibility of Fort George. Again, he writes to 
show how he gained time: 

*'I therefore shall add only two short remarks; the one, that the fact 
of gaining considerable time by allotting the whole service of the water 
craft to the transport of provision & stores over Lake George, instead 
of employing great part of it for the transport of troops, is incontestably 
proved by the evidence of Captain Money and Lieutenant Colonel 
Kingston: the other, that to have reached Fort Edward with the troops 
sooner than the 29th of July (the day that the first embarkation of pro- 
visions reached Fort George) would not only have been useless but also 
highly impolitic." [Ibid., p. 97.) 

Still further, he declares that, in case he had moved his whole force 
over Lake George, 

"To maintain the communication with Fort George during such a 
movement, so as to be supplied by daily degrees at a distance, continu- 
ally increasing, was an obvious impossiblity." (/^/^, App. xxii.) 



.5 NOTES ON THE 

In the course of the official inquiry into Burgoyne's military policy, 
the following questions were put to the Earl of Balcarras : 

"^. Had the army proceeded to Fort George by Ticonderoga and 
Lake George, might not the enemy have remained at Fort George till 
the trenches were opened, and have still had their retreat secure? 

" y^. That is a matter of opinion upon speculation. 

*' ^. Do you think that the British army, being well provided with 
the artillery, was a probable reason for their not defending entrench- 
ments ? 

" y/. The reason they did not defend their entrenchments was, that 
they always marched out of them and attacked us." 

To the first question the answer is an idle one, while the reply to the 
second is simply pert. Every one who inew anything ot Fort George 
knew that a fox could have run over its walls. The idea of a siege 
• would have made the commander smile. It is true that Washington 
himself was ''informed"* that a brave commander could have held the 
fort, and delayed the advance of the British, but what shall we say of 
his informant ? 

In regard to the allegation that the Americans were accustomed to 
march out of their intrenchments to attack the British, we need only to 
remember that such was simply not the case. 

The misfortunes of a military commander always inspire hostile critics 
with an astuteness that is remarkable and a wisdom that is profound. 
Still we must do justice to King George by quoting his declaration, 
written before the advance of Burgoyne, wherein he says : 

"If possible, possession must be taken of Lake George, and nothing 
but an absolute impossibility of succeeding in this can be an excuse for 
proceeding by South Bay & Skenesborough."f 

The seat of war having been removed by the surrender of Burgoyne, 
and the return of the remaining British forces to Canada, Fort George 
remained in quiet until 1780. The life of the little garrison, though 
dull enough, no doubt, in fact, would now, if it had been placed on 
record, aft'orded many incidents of interest to the historian. But the 
record we do not possess, though many an old diary bearing on the sub- 
ject may now be reposing amid the dust of ancient alcoves and garrets, 
waiting to be drawn forth to light by the antiquary's hand. 

Still the war was not destined to end without further adventures, for, 
in the autumn of 1 780, Fort George suddenly came out once more into 
public notice. 

Impelled by the desire to recover three barrels of silver-plate, then 
buried in the cellar of his house at Johnstown, and encouraged, perhaps, 
by the prospective results of the treason of Benedict Arnold, Sir John 
Johnson threaded his way down from Canada through the gorgeous 

* See p. 36, ante. f Albermarle's " Memoirs of the Marquis of Rockingham," Vol. ii. p. 331. 



HISTORT OF FORT GEORGE. ^y 

October forests, bore off his treasure, and retired northward again, pur- 
sued by Governor Clinton, and marking his line of invasion with flames 
and smoke. Major Carlton likewise improved the occasion to come 
up Champlain and strike a blow at Forts Ann and George. The first- 
mentioned post fell on October loth, and Fort George met the same 
fate on the following day. But as we have in the "Garrison Orders" 
of the few days previous some glimpses of the condition of things, let us 
give them here: 

" Garrison Orders Fort George 

''Sepr 26 178- 

" Every Non Commissioned officer and Soldier that has drew Bayonet 
Scabords and Belts from the public are to return them to Public Store — • 

"The Commanding officers of Companies to see the above articles 
Colected and the Regimental Quarter master to Recpt for the Same — 

"John Chipman Capt Comdtt. 

"Garrison Orders Fort George 

" Octob'- 2 1780 — 

"Where as Complaint is maid by the Adgnt and Sargnt Magor of 
the great Difficulty they meet with in giting the men out the Perade in 
consiquence of which there are to direct that the Revile is Beat every 
morning at break of day when every officer Non Commissioned officer 
and soldier are to attend the perade, except one officers S.-irv^t to each 
room — the men are also ordered to keep their arms and accoutrements 
in good order and in such position that they can lay their hands upon 
them in the dark and if ocation Calls be ready for action in a moment — 
They are also to observe to be on the perade on every call of the drum 
without the least delay — The Sargeant of the gard is to awake the 
drumer every morning — 

"The Commanding officer Expects these orders will be complied 
with in the strictest sence of the word, and who ever disobeys may 
expect the severest punishment. — 

"John Chipman Capt Comd^ 

"Garrison Orders Fort George. 

''Ocf S'^ 1780— 

"Court Martial to set immediately to such prisoners as shall be 
brought before them 

"Thomas Sill is President 
"Ens" Grant 



ti J T ^ Members 

"d Lighthall [ 

**The Court to set where the President shall appoint. 

■P John Chipman Capt Comd^ 



(( 



"The Court Convened and bemg duly sworn proceeded to the tryal 
of Corp'l John Fretcher of Capt Wollcotts Company confined Neglect 



48 



NOTES ON THE 



ot duty — Pleads not guilty The Court after hearing the evidence finds 
him guilty ; and sentince him to be reduced to a private Sentinal and do 
duty as such. 

"Thos Sill Pris^t 

"The above Judgment approved of and ordered to be Complied with 
this evening at Rool Call — 

"John Chipman Capt Comd^. 

"Garrison Orders Fort George. 

"■Octhr II 1778 

*'Sir as it is reported to me that their is a small party of savages near 
Bloddy pond, you will immediately take Forty Eight men, officers 
included and Proseed on the main road until you make discoveries of 
them, keeping a Suffiscient advance and Flank gards in Such a manner 
as to prevent being surrounded, if you find a large party you will Em- 
mediately Retreat to the fort except they should be savages only in 
which case you will attack and immediately Charge upon them — " 

("Hist. Mag.," 1867, p. 378.) 

But here the garrison orders suddenly came to an end, and the fort, 
with its single mounted gun, sooh changed masters. 




HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 



49 




CHAPTER VII. 




N V A S I O N S like the so-called " Northern 
Invasion" had often been predicted, and Fort 
George, as we have seen, had often been threat- 
ened. Now, however, the act longed for by the 
Tories took place. On the nth of October, 
ignorant of the surrender of Fort Ann, and mis- 
taking the advancing force of Major Carlton for 
a handful of roving savages. Captain Chipman 
sent out a party to reconnoitre. Meeting the enemy, they advanced to 
the attack, and were defeated. Captain Sill and two ensigns being 
killed, while the rest, with the exception of an ensign and fourteen men, 
surrendered. Those who thus escaped fled to the fort, which Carlton 
quickly surrounded. Resistance being useless. Fort George soon capit- 
ulated to the enemy, obtaining honorable terms. 

But, notwithstand-ng the commander acted with all the bravery and 
circumspection that the case demanded, there was not wanting an accu- 
ser to misrepresent the circumstances. 

Concerning this affair. Governor Clinton reported to General Wash- 
ington, Oct. 30, that: 

"The little post and garrison of Fort Ann, appeared to me to have 
been surrendered through treachery or cowardice. Capt Chipman, the 
commanding officer of Fort George, having on the first alarm sent out 
his whole garrison, (supposing the enemy to consist of only ab' 30 Indians 
and tories), except 14 men obtained a very honorable capitulation, before 
he could be induced to surrender." ("Letters to Washington," Vol. 
"i> P- 133-) 

Aspersions like these very naturally brought out a defence from Cap- 
tain Chipman, and he accordingly addressed the following letter to the 
public press:* 



* This communication appears to have escaped the attention of those who have written on this 
subject. 



CO NOTES ON THE 

"Mr. Green, 

"The Singularity of the Misfortunes which happened at 
Fort George, on the nth of October last, will justify a Desire that you 
will publish the following just Narration of the Circumstances of that 
unhappy Affair through the Channel of your paper. 

"In the Beginning of October last, having the Command at Fort 
George, I was informed by my Scouts from the North End of Lake 
George, that they had discovered two Sail of the Enemy's Vessels at 
Anchor at Crown Point; which Intelligence, though nothing unusual, 
I communicEted to Colonel Malcom, Commanding Officer in the 
Northern Department. 

"The Enemy's Force consisting of 800 British, one Company of 
Yagers, 175 Indians and 200 Tories, under the Command of Major 
Carleton, gained a rapid Passage from Ticonderoga to the Head of South 
Bay, in the Night of the 8ih of October, detaching a Party to return 
with their Boats to the Carrying-Place into Lake George, in Order to 
transport their Howitzer, Shells, Sec. across that Lake to the Fort, 
which though dignified with that Term is but an unfinished Angle of 
the Intended Fort.* 

"Monday the 8th of October, Capt. Sherwood, who commanded at 
Fort Ann, (a small Stockade, seven Miles South of the Head of South 
Bay, 20 E. N. E. from Fort George, and 14 from Fort Edward, gar- 
risoned with two Lieutenants and seventy-five Men) was informed by 
his Scouts of the Approach of the Enemy, which Intelligence he Imme- 
diately communicated to Col. Henry Livingston, who commanded at 
Fort Edward; but Col. Livingston not forwarding the Intelligence to 
me, I was totally in the Dark with respect to the Enemy's Incursion 
into the Country against Fort Ann and the Vicinity. 

"Tuesday the loth, about Noon, Col. Livingston was inform'd by 
two Gentlemen who had occasionally rode out and narrowly escaped 
being taken, of the Enemy's having captured Fort Ann, and were 
making a rapid Progress through Kingsbury, burning and destroying all 
before them : Expresses were dispatched from Fort Edward upon this 
second Intelligence into the Country, but none to Fort George, altho' 
the Communication was open 'till 3 o'Clock in the Afternoon. Upon 
my being informed of the two Vessels before-mention'd at Crown-Point, 
I thought it necessary to keep a strict Eye upon them, and accordingly 
dispatched a Batteau in the Night to the North-End of Lake George, 
to watch their Motions, not knowing of their Troops having pene- 
trated the Country by the Rout of South-Bay. This Boat went within 
eight Miles of the Landing, andf to 

Reconnoitre the Enemy, when they discovered the Party with the 
Howitzer, &c. fearing for Fort George; my Party finding their Retreat 
thus cut off wisely made their Escape by Land. 

* See Schuyler's " Letter," p. 36, ante. 

■}■ The letters are blurred here and undecipherable. Copies of the paper are scarce. 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. cf 

"Wednesday the nth. The Garrison having been two Days without 
Provisions, I sent an Express to Fort Edward to have some forwarded, 
but he returned, having discovered a Party of Indians near Bloody-Pond, 
about a Mile and Half from the Fort. Thus situated without Provision, 
Artillery, and but a small Quantity of Ammunition, I thought it most 
advisable to reconnoitre this Party, with a View of falling upon the best 
Method of saving the small Garrison, and accordingly issued the follow- 
ing Order, from which I hoped some Advantage would arise either by 
clearing the Road of the Savages or of protecting any Convoy of Pro- 
vision that might be coming to the Fort. 

"Garrison Orders. 

•'Fort George, October nth, 1780 

"Sir, 

"As it is reported to me that there is a small Party of Savages 
near Bloody-Pond, you will immediately take the Command of a Party 
of forty-eight Men, Officers included, and proceed on main Road until 
you make Discoveries of them, keeping sufficient advanced and flank 
Guards in such a Manner as to prevent being surrounded; if you find a 
large Party you will immediately retreat to the Fort except they should 
be Savages only, in which Case you will immediately attack and charge 
upon them.* 

"John Chipman, Capt. Commandant. 
"To Capt. Thomas Sill. 

"Capt. Sill immediately marched, hut unfortunately taking a Rout 
different from his Orders, he passed the Enemy on their Approach, and 
on his Return fell upon their Rear, which effectually prevented a Possi- 
bility of his Return to the Fort, and reduced him to the desperate Al- 
ternative of attacking a Body of at least thirty to one^ or to march ofF 
through the Woods and expose himself to the infamous Reflections of 
Ignorance and Detraction; like brave Men they unanimously agreed 
on the Former and formed their Line, advancing (each Officer in com- 
mand of his proper Section) near a Mile upon the Enemy, when they 
formed and were instantaniously attacked by this handful of brave Men 
who soon forced them to give way, and advanced on with charged 
Bayonets; but their Numbers being now known to the Enemy they 
soon surrounded and killed or took the whole, except Ensign Grant 
with 14 Men who made their Escape, and wisely kept clear of the Gar- 
rison, Capt. Sill and two Ensigns fell in the Action, and the Enemy 
immediately invested the Fort, and were opposed from the Wall by a 
six Pounder (being the only Piece of Ordnance mounted in the Fort) 
and 15 small Arms until they summoned a Surrender, which was granted 
after obtaining the following Terms, which I have the Confidence to 
declare I am not ashamed of, and could not have expected better if I 
had ten Times the Number. 

* This is the same order already quoted, revised for the printer. 



52 



NOTES ON THE 



"This, Mr. Printer is a plain State of the Facts, and it will imme- 
diately appear to every One that the want of Men, Artillery, Ammu- 
nition and Provision is Cause sufficient for the Surrender of tenable 
Forts, much more for the wretched Production of a cantrous Jebb, and 
that the sending Capt. Sill was the only Step that could produce Ad- 
vantage, by bringing in the Provision had it been upon the Road, or by 
making such Discoveries as would have authorized an Evacuation ; but 
when Orders are disobeyed, it is not surprising that Plans are not 
executed. I obtained my Parole of Maj. Carleton until the 15th of 
next May, which has been a Matter of Cavil to the busy Propagators 
of unmerited Abuse and the pittyful Retailers of groundless Slander. 
"I am, Sir, 

"Your most humble Servant, 
"John Chipman, 

"Col. Warner's Regiment.*' 
("Connecticut Gazette," Feb. 16, 1781.) 

To this he appends the articles of capitulation which were revised. 
Therefore we give them verbatim: 

" Articles of Capitulation between Major Carleton, commanding a 
detachment of the King's troops, and Capt. Chipman, Commanding at 
Fort George. 

'■^Article V The Troops of the garrison to surrender themselves 
prisoners of war. 

^'■Article 2"^ That the women & children be permitted to return to 
their homes, with two waggons & their baggage. 

^'-Article 3^^ Each officer shall be allowed their servants 
^^ Article 4'^^ No Indian to enter the fort until a British detachment 
takes possession of the fort. 

^'•Article 5"^ Major Carleton passes his honor that no levies on the 
fort shall be lost, nor any person to be molested. 
'•^Article 6(^ Each Soldier to carry his Knapsack 
'■^ Article y'^ Ensign Barrett shall be permitted to return home with 
his family & the regimental books, on giving his parole to Major Carle- 
ton 

"John Chipman, Capt Coms 2^ Battalion. 

"James Kirkman, Lt. 2g^^ Regt. 

"Wm Johnston, Lt. 47th Regt. 

"Ch" Carlton, Major 29th Regt, &., &., &." 

("Almon's Remembrancer," 1781, p. 81.) 

To this may properly be added the return of the killed, wounded, and 
prisoners taken at Forts Ann and George, the loth and nth of Octo- 
ber, 1780: "Killed, I Captain, 2 Lieutenants, I Ensign, 23 privates. — 
Wounded, i Lieutenant, one private. — Prisoners, 2 captains, 2 Lieu- 
tenants, 114 privates." 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. co 

The English loss is given as follows: 

"Return of the Killed and wounded of the detachment under the 
command of Major Carleton, the nth of October, 1780. 

ti^^th regiment, i private Killed, i Sergeant and i private wounded. — 
King's rangers, i private Killed. — Major Jessop's corps, i private wound- 
ed. — Indians, i Killed, i wounded." (//^/V, p. 82.) 

To make the documentory portion of our story complete, we must 
add some extracts from the correspondence of Col. Gansevoort with 
Major Carleton. The former says: 

"A certain James Van Deusen, who deserted from our service to 
you, and who, since you were on this side of the lake, has stolen back 
into the country, has been apprehended, & will suffer death as a deserter. 
He confesses that after the recontre near Fort George, with some of 
Col. Warner's men and your party, in which one of the Indians was 
Killed, your Indians, in cold blood. Scalped one of Warner's men alive, 
tormented him a considerable time, & afterwards cut his throat — and 
all this in your presence." 

To this Major Carleton replied: 

"I should have expected Captain Chapnan [Chipman] would have 
given a flat contradiction to James Van Deusen's confession. No 
prisoner was scalped, or tortured alive. I saved the lives of several of 
the prisoners, who were neither stripped nor insulted in the smallest 
degree when the affair was over. I heard of one man being killed after 
he was taken during the firing, owing to a dispute between the two 
Indians, of different villages who had taken him. He was either a 
negro or a Stockbridge Indian I believe. & he would not suffer himself 
to be conducted to the British guard by a loyalist officer." (Stone's 
"Brant," Vol, 11, p. 134.) 

In regard to the manner in which the capture was accomplished. Gov- 
ernor Haldimand wrote, Oct. 25th, commending Major Carleton, say- 
ing: "The Secrecy and despatch with which this detachment pene- 
trated, prevented any opposition of consequence on the part of the 
enemy; and on the lO^^^ and ii'h instant, the garrisons of Fort Ann & 
Fort George surrendered prisoners of war." ("London Gazette" in 
*'Almon's Remembrancer," 1781, p. 81.) 

It will be seen that Captain Chipman was expecting an enemy by the 
way of Lake George, but was misled, and that, after the capture of Fort 
Ann, he was not apprised of the fact. The information sent to others 
did not reach him. 

Oct. 13th, Col. Malcom wrote to Gen. Van Rensselaer that "a 
very considerable body of the Enemy appeared on Tuesday at Fort 
Ann, which was instantly given up by Cap' Sherwood. They came 



_. NOTES ON THE 

54 

on to the river & burnt a number of houses about Fort Edward. Yes- 
terday they returned towards Lake George." (Hough's "Northern 
Invasion," p. 93.) 

The day previous, Stephen Lush, communicating with Governor 
Clinton, says *' Col° Livingston writes, that his intelligence is, that 
Carleton with his party are now at Fort George, and are to be joined 
by a party from Ballstown under command of Sir John [Carleton]: 
and that he [Col. Livingston] means if he can, with safety to his post, 
march to the relief of Fort George." [Ibid, p. 90.) 

But though there was considerable alarm, nothing was actually done 
to stay the progress of the invaders ; and finally. Hall's " Poughkeepsie 
Journal," of Oct. 16, announced to the public : 

*' We hear from the northward, that a considerable body of British 
Troops, Indians and Tories from Canada, by way of Lake Champlain, 
have taken our posts at Fort George & Fort Ann, with the small gar- 
rison ; and that the enemy are still burning & ravaging the country, in 
the neighborhood of Fort Edward." 

Little blame can, on the whole, be thrown upon the commander at 
Fort George, especially as General Schuyler himself, writing the pre- 
vious April, thought that the prospect of danger from the enemy was 
small. 

Governor Clinton appears to have taken a very active part in the de- 
fence of this year, and May 29th was at Fort George, having come 
thus far in pursuit of Sir John Johnson's band of marauders. Yet, when 
the danger was really at hand, no adequate force was prepared to meet 
it, and thus fort George fell, the English invaders, on the whole, earn- 
ing the commendation that General Haldimand bestowed. 

In regard to the disposition of the garrison of Fort George, we find 
that, on Oct. 17th, 1780, Capt. Sherwood wrote to Colonel Henry 
Livingston, from on board the Carleton, " Major Chipman is also 
prisoner here with about forty men from Fort George." 

There are various documents which show the measures taken to effect 
the liberation of their prisoners, but they are not of sufficient interest to 
quote here. 

During the following winter both the English and the Americans 
appear to have been in a poor condition to resume hostilities. Though 
the former had withdrawn to the north, the latter had no heart to 
advance their lines, and had no force northward of Saratoga. The 
main line appears to have rested parallel to the Mohawk River. Thus 
the cold season passed in .quiet, and the deserted ramparts of Fort 
George were left undisturbed. 

Yet the people of the entire region lived in continual fear. Though 
the lakes were frozen, and the routes of travel were buried in snow, 
they knew that the spring would come upon them, unfettering the 
easily-navigated waters, and flinging wide all the gates. Therefore, on 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE cc 

January 23, 1781, Joseph McCracken, in behalf of the people of White 
Creek, addressed the Legislature of New York, saying that the march 
of Burgoyne left the region of Skenesboro' ruined, while the capture of 
Forts Ann and George, together with the ravages in Kingsbury and 
Queensbury, left the people to conclude that the British were bent upon 
their destruction. Moreover, the people had been kept "so long under 
arms" that they had been obliged to neglect their crops, and, unless 
immediate relief was given, they would withdraw altogether from that 
part of the country. 

The I/Cgislature, however, was poorly qualified to afford them any 
special aid, and if anything was done in response to this appeal, the 
record does not remain. 

But, as the season advanced, the situation became invested with new 
complications, and the people of New York found that they might any 
day be obliged to contend with an enemy from Vermont, whose people 
had worked themselves up into a high state of excitement, in conse- 
quence of what they considered the aggressions of the government of 
Albany. 

Moreover, the leaders of the people in Vermont were engaged in a 
system of double dealing; and, while representing themselves as friendly 
to the union of the States, and ardently desirous of an American vic- 
tory, were, at the same time, carrying on secret negociations with the 
British. And whatever may have been the real designs of these men, 
it is clear that they managed all their negociations in such a way as to 
be ready to drop either party at any moment when it might serve their 
purpose. 

It is true that they cordially hated both the British and the people of 
New York, and yet the more intense dislike appears to have been 
reserved for their foes of the common American household. Ethan 
Allen probably reflected the spirit of the leaders; and what he thought 
we may gather from a letter written by General Schuyler, at Saratoga, 
May 19, 1781. He says: 

"Yesterday Major McCracken was with me and informed me that 
Ethan Allen had some days ago been at White Creek attempting to 
seduce the inhabitants from their allegiance to the State, that in conver- 
sation with him, he asked what part the Grants would take in case the 
enemy attempted to penetrate into the country. Allen replied that he 
would neither give nor take any assistance from New York." ("Clin- 
ton Papers," No. 3729.) 

And, while this state of things continued, a transaction occurred which 
is of interest at this time, chiefly for the reason that it relates to the his- 
tory of Fort George, the subject now under consideration. 

We find that, on April i6th. Governor Clinton wrote to General 
Schuyler ("Clinton Papers," No. 3632) in regard to the secret nego- 
ciations of the leaders in Vermont, and inclosed a letter on the subject 
from General Washington. In regard to Harris and Fish, who are 



56 



NOTES ON THE 



mentioned therein, he says that he has " some reason to believe that 
they may both be confided in." 

The letter of Washington, which does not appear in his published 
*' Works," edited by Sparks, runs as follows, excepting one paragraph, 
which has no bearing upon the subject before us: 

"Head Quarters, New Windsor 15. Jpril 1781. 
"Dear Sir 

"The bearer Mr Fish of Saratoga district came to me this 
morning, with the intelligence of which the inclosed is a copy. How 
he obtained it from one Harris, he will inform your Excellency. Harris, 
whose character perhaps your Excellency may be acquainted with, is to 
meet the party under Ensign Smith the 20th of this month — is to con- 
vey a packet to Albany and to carry another back to them. He pro- 
posed to Fish to seize him at a place to be agreed upon and to take the 
letters from him. But I think a better way would be to let him carry 
the letters and answers in the first instance to General Schuyler, who 
might contrive means of opening them without breaking the seal, take 
copies of the contents, and then let them go on. By this means we 
should become masters of the whole plot, whereas, were we to seize 
Harris upon his first tour, we should break up the chain of communica- 
tion, which seems providentally so thrown into our hands. Should your 
Excellency approve the measures which I have suggested, you will be 
pleased to write to Gen^ Schuyler upon the subject, and desire him, 
should business call him from Albany, to leave the conduct of the affair 
in proper hands in his absence. I have promised Fish that both he and 
Harris shall be handsomely rewarded if they execute the business with 
fidelity. 

:)( * * * * . * 

" With the highest Respect and 
"Esteem I am 

"Y"^ Excellency 

''Most o' Sere. 

"G. Washington." 
("Clinton Papers," No. 3633.) 
The communication referred to is to the following eff^ect : 

"(Copy) March 29. 81 

"Being on the frontier in the neighborhood of Skenesborough 
on t\\e ^6^^ instant and being taken to be a tory were introduced to a 
party of the Enemy from Canada as commanded by Ensign Thos Smith 
late of Albany and David Higginbottom, Caleb Closen and Andrew 
Rukeley the whole four in number come on to a plot to destroy the 
independence of this and other States, it not being possible for me to 
betray them in safety concluded it best to act the hypocrite for once and 
succeeded so far as to draw from them that the grants had capitulated 
privately to lay down their arms on the approach of the British, which 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. en 

is to be done early this spring, when the British arc to proceed to Fort 
George and take possession and fortify on Gages Hill,* for what pur- 
pose they now have their boats and shipping ready framed at St Johns 
and other places, to bring and put into Lake George with all other 
preparations, even their pickets to fortify the above post with. I further 
learned that their strength consists in eight thousand troops and Loy- 
alists, and many in the State of New York were concerned, gentle & 
simple, not only on the frontier, but throughout 
" From the M at Evening 

"to the 22." (" Clinton Papers," No. 3633.) 

What was the result of the foregoing transaction it is impossible to 
say. Possibly the men were well-meaning babblers, excited by the 
prospect of reward. As regards General Schuyler, however, he ulti- 
mately came to the conclusion that the leaders of Vermont, instead 
of plotting against the American cause, were engaged in the equally 
dangerous and dishonorable part of deceiving the authorities of Great 
Britain. t Nevertheless, he continued to watch the Vermonters, and, 
on May 4, 1 781, he wrote to Governor Clinton that he intended to 
make a full examination of the subject. 

* For a reference to this, see note on Fort G.ige, at page 6. The author does not remember 
having seen any ocher allusion to "Gage's Hill" in the many contemporaneous manuscri[ts that 
he has examined. Beyond doubt, the hill referred to is that which afforded the site of the old 
fort, called " Fort Gage." 

■j- The author here desires to express no opinion in regard to the real intentions of Vermont, 
as represented by her leaders. Nevertheless, the regret may be expressed that any should attempt 
to justify what they claim to be the precise intentions of those men. There is something that it 
worth more than immunity from temporary inconvenience, and which can never compensate for 
the loss of good faith between nations, as also between man and man. 




58 



NOTES ON THE 




CHAPTER VIII. 




R I T I N G to Governor Clinton, May 4, 1781, 
having his attention all the while closely given 
to the movements on the Grants, Gen. Schuy- 
ler says : 

'^ That the enemy intend to take post more to 
the south than were [j/V] they are at present, I 
really believe, but I cannot imagine that they 
mean permanently to do it on this side of Lake 
George ; — should they fortify there at present it 
must evidently be with a design to take advantage of any movement 
of Sir Henry Clinton. A few days ago I advised General [James] 
Clinton that some of the British ships were arrived at Crown Point." 

In the same letter he also says : 

*' The garrison here has been ten days without any meat, except what 
they procure by marauding, every eatable animal in this part of the 
country is already expended. Not a single scout can be kept out and I 
fear that Harris's last account will speedily be verified, and that a great 
majority of the troops here will go off to the enemy, (they may move 
leisurely to Fort George or Skenesborough and be there received into 
the enemies' boats) unless provision is instantly procured for them." 
("Clinton Papers," No. 3691.) 

At this time the condition of affairs on the frontiers of New York was 
trulv deplorable. North of Saratoga, in the region of Lake George, the 
people were without defence, it being impossible to maintain a force at 
so distant a locality as Fort George. 

In the meanwhile, the deplorable dissensions with Vermont grew 
apace, and frequent appeals were made to violence, so that troops were 
urgently needed for the protection of the citizens against the Green 
Mountain desperadoes. Happily, therefore, the British did not advance 
far on the lakes. Nevertheless, the summer air was thick with rumors, 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 



59 



and the British were ever "coming." At last the imaginations of the 
inhabitants took on the form of the following communication from 
General Stark: 

"Head Quarters 
"half past 6 O ck Saratoga 

"nth Qctbr I 78 I 

" Dear Sir 

"By Information this moment receid I am Informed that the 
Enemy are now in reality on this side of Lake Geo:ge. for Gods sake 
hurry on with all the Force you can collect as perhaps this may be the 
Last Information I can give you until they are in reality here I can 
Give no Information of their Force but we must be prepared for the 
Worst. 

**I am Dear Sir you 

"very Hum^ Servt. 

John Starke. 
"B. Geni- Gansevort." ("Clinton Papers," No. 4060.) 

The next day, October 12, General Schuyler followed up Stark, in a 
letter to Governor Clinton, saying : 

*'This moment I received an express from Gen: Stark advising me 
that the Enemy had landed between Lake George & Saratoga." ("Clin- 
ton Papers," No. 4064.) 

Governor Clinton immediately ordered General Rensaelear to be in 
readiness to march with his brigade ; and, meanwhile, the alarm was 
spread abroad in print; for the "New York Journal," giving the Fish- 
kill news of October 18, 1781, says: 

" Accounts from the northward, give us strong indications of a hostile 
visit in that quarter. It is said that they have advanced to the South 
End of Lake George, in some force, but their numbers not ascertained 
. . . Energetic measures are taking by the militia in that vicinity; a 
brigade of regular troops, part of which are already at Albanv, passed 
through this town last Monday, on their way to Fish-Kill Landing, and 
there to embark on board of vessels to carry them up." 

But the old cry of "Wolf!" did not, at least in this particular re2;ion, 
again meet its traditional reward; and, October 26th, General Heath 
wrote to Governor Clinton, from Continental Village, saying 

"It is really surprising that accounts from the northward are so 
vague and uncertain — At one time the Enemy are beyond the lakes,— 
at another between them, and sometimes it is not known where they 
are." ("Clinton Papers," No, 4097.) 

On the same day, October 26, the Assembly of New York, in an 
address to Governor Clinton, in which they said: 



^O NOTES ON THE 

"It gives as great satisfaction to find that, notwithstanding the Extent 
of our frontier Settlements and the desultory War, carried on by a bar- 
barous Enemy, fewer depredation have been committed than we had 
Reason to apprehend j Attributable, under God, to the Vigilance and 
activity of the Forces Stationed for their Protection, and with you, wc 
confide that the regular Troops and Levies lately detached for their 
Defence, will be sufficient to repel the threatened Invasion of the 
Enemy. 

"Permit us. Sir, to express the high Sense we entertain of your 
judicious Arrangements of our State IVoops, and of the distinguished 
Exertions, which have on every Occasion, been made by your Excel- 
lency, to defend the Frontiers against the hostile attacks of our merciless 
Enemies." ("Journal of Assembly," 1781, p. 9.) 

Yet their applause had hardly died away when the enemy actually 
appeared; and the "New York Packet," of November i, reported 
truly that a party of British, under Major Ross, had come down Oneida 
Lake, burning dwellings and committing depredations, afterwards cross- 
ing the Mohawk River. Colonel Willett met them, however, and 
secured a decided victory. 

November 3d, a second victory was reported as achieved by the same 
•officer. From the "New Jersey Journal," of November 21, 1781, we 
learn that the commanding general at Poughkeepsie, issued an order 
recognizing the victory of Colonel Willett, and saying: 

**The General has the pleasure of acquainting this army, that the 
enemy have been completely disappointed in their designs on the northern 
frontiers of this state, in consequence of the measures adopted to receive 
them in the vicinity of the Lakes * * * * That part of their force 
which was to proceed over the Lakes, has not dared to land on this 
side."* 

In all these operations Fort George made no figure, as neither party 
found it advisable to throw forces forward to such an undesirable point; 
and, when winter came again, the position was hemmed in by the ice 
and snow. 

With the return of spring (1782), the enemy, now disheartened by 
the reverses sustained in the South, made no effort to renew hostilities ; 
and the people on the border of New York were quite as much in fear 
of the Vermonters as of anything. Yet, in the autumn, the alarm was 
sounded, and, in October, Jacob Bayley wrote to Governor Clinton, 
from Mowbury, as follows: 

*' Ten days ago I had intelligence which I depended upon from St. 
Johns that the enemy were moving in force up Lake Champlain that an 
Expedition [would go] Southward from that place, the Tenth of Oc- 

* The full report of Willett may be seen in the " New Jersey Journal," November 28, 1781, 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 6 1 

tober, also that a force was going by the way of Oswego *** The enemy 
will try to destroy Albany and Establish Vermont this season as well as 
to support Vermont in opposition to Congress *** I lay on my arms 
night and day being in Danger both from Britton and Vermont." 

In a postscript, he adds : 

"this minute I have Certain Inteligonce that the Enemy are Deter- 
mined to Destroy Albany this fall that Vermont will make a great noies 
by calling in the militia &c but you may depend it will not be to oppose 
the Enemy but to Deceive the populous and prevent the militia from 
assisting you." (" N. Y. State Legislative Papers," MS.) 

Thus, we have another illustration of the declaration of Ethan Allen, 
already quoted, that he would neither give nor take aid from New York. 

Yet, notwithstanding all these threatening appearances, a peaceable 
solution of the Vermont difficulties was reached, while the return to 
friendly relations with the mother country extinguished the prospect of 
foreign invasion, and left Fort George in the wilderness, a forgotten 
relic of the past. 

After its surrender by Captain Chipman, in 1780, it does not appear 
that Fort George was ever of any real practical use, or even that it 
possessed a garrison. Occasionally it may have furnished a refuge for 
raiders, and lodgings for the strolling scouts; but a position selected 
originally with so little judgment, and fortified with such limited strength, 
must of necessity find its level in the estimate of military, men, by whom 
it was ultimately abandoned as a post which it was not worth while to 
keep. In the War of 181 2 it was not thought of. 

But, though the military authorities lost all interest in the locality, 
civilians were fully alive in regard to the financial importance of the 
entire region. While of very moderate agricultural value, it possessed 
forests of no mean worth; and, besides. Lake St. Sacrament still pos- 
sessed its advantages as a route of travel for passengers bound to Canada. 
Accordingly, many old soldiers who had served in the campaigns around 
the lake, and consequently had claims upon their country, remembered 
the sites of their former watch-fires, and petitioned for grants of land, as 
was also done by many of the survivors of the French war previous to 
the outbreak of the Revolution. When hostilities with England ceased, 
among other petitions laid before the authorities was the following: 

"The Petition of Jonathan Pitcher, Gurdon Chamberlin, Wyatt 
Chamberlin and Isaac Doty residing on a Tract of Land at the South 
End of Lake George commonly called Garrison-Land, humbly sheweth ; 
That Your Petitioners, some time since, being desirous to emigrate 
from the Old Settlements and to fix ourselves on the Frontier of the 
State, did obtain, from the Surveyor Gen^ of the State, Leases of the 
Lands whereon we now reside, which Leases being only for the Term 
of One Year induceth us to address Your Hon'ble Body on the Sub- 



62 NOTES ON THE 

ject — Your Petitioners having removed our families to this place at 
great Expence from a very considerable distance, ardently wish to con- 
tinue on the same, and do, most humbly pray that our Leases may be 
renewed for as long a Term of time as your Hon'ble Body shall deem 
most eligible; or that any other mode may be adopted whereby your 
petitioners may be allowed to occupy the premises. 
"Lake George Dec. 30 1783." 

("New York Legislative Papers," MS.) 

December 19, 1784, Jacobus Van Schoonhoven and Gerardus Clute, 
of Half Moon, say in their petition to the Legislature : 

**That your Petitioners are desirous of accepting a Lease from the 
State of the Landing Place at Fort George and fifty acres of meadow 
land adioining the Same — as also the Exclusive right of Ferriage from 
said landing to Ticonderoga — also the sole Exclusive privilege of Keep- 
ing a Tavern at the Same Landing insomuch that no other person is to 
be permitted to keep a tavern within the distance of half a mile from 
Said Landing. That your petitioners propose and are willing to enter 
into a Covenant for erecting a House & Barn and a sufficient number 
of Ferry Boats for the purpose aforesaid."* 

February following, William Cobb and Lyman Hitchcock made a 
similar request, though apparently with poor results. Eventually the 
greater portion of the land in this vicinity was granted to James Cald- 
well, and the town which sprang up at the end of Lake George took 
the proprietor's name, which it still bears. 

In course of time the shores of this beautiful lake possesssd quite a 
numerous population; and the number of the inhabitants is. now slowly 
increasing year by year, many of whom are attracted by the romantic 
recollections of the place, and the rare beauty of the scenery, which, 
whatever may be the changes that are to come, can never lose its inef- 
fable charm. 

But the student of History may always enjoy a twofold pleasure 
in visiting and lingering around the site of Old Fort George. The 
flippant tourist who visits the lake as an act of fashionable propriety 

* Connected with the petition of those wanting lands and other emoluments, is one bearing 
date of January 4, 1784, from Lieut.-Colonel Robert Cochran, of " the Second New York Regi- 
ment of foot in the Service of the United States," who "■ Humbly sheweth " to the «' people of 
the State of New York in Senate and Assembly convened," 

"That very shortly after the commencement of Hostilities by the British Troops, your Peti- 
tioner at the head of a small party of Volunteers, and at the evident Risk and Hazard of his 
Life attacked and carried with the British Garrisons at Crown Point and Ticonderoga, by which 
fortunate and unexpected Event a very considerable quantity of heavy artillery and military stores 
were secured for the use of the United States, as many of the members of this Honorable House 
now present can attest." (" N. York Legislative Papers," MS.) 

This statement is, of course, about as trustworthy as that by Ethan Allen, who likewise pro- 
fessed that he was "at the head" of this same "small party," and who claimed the exclusive 
glory of the capture of Ticonderoga. 



HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 



63 



will, indeed, hardly appreciate the feelings of the intelligent antiquary 
who seeks to make himself familiar with each storied site. The forces 
engaged around the lake were trivial compared with the armies that 
have since done battle to maintain the Independence which was in 
northern New York, at the outset, so largely achieved. Then, as 
regards Fort George itself, we might have dismissed the subject with a 
few words, saying that there never was any Fort George, since the 
structure that bore the name was simply the bastion of an intended 
fortification. But here the interest does not depend upon numbers 
and architecture. In a historical point of view, the strength of an 
army is of little more concern than the stature of its commander. It is 
the morale of the struggle that chiefly excites reflection. At least the 
antiquary finds it so at Fort George, where he hears no story of num- 
bers, and is not impressed, as is some times the case at Ticonderoga, by 
the extent of the military remains. Only one insignificant ruin is now 
found on the old grounds at the head of the lake for which kings con- 
tended through many long years. So obscure is the site, that those 
who go rapidly over the route often do not see it at all ; while others 
confound the ruins of Fort George with the remains of an ancient lime- 
kiln that lie, an almost undistinguishable heap, near by. But the site 
is, nevertheless, readily discovered, and, in approaching the lake from 
Glen's Falls, it will be found on the right of the ancient military road, 
embowered among the hemlocks and pines. The sally-port is gone, and 
the rudely-built walls are crumbling to their fall. Plants and creepers 
in many places hold together the loose stones laid by tired hands that 
long since found rest. Within the inclosure, sheep browse among the 
mullein stalks, and the tinkling of the cow-bell floats out from among 
the trees, falling musically upon the car. It is a quiet place, indeed. 
Fort George has known its last alarm, and fired its last gun. On a 
mild summer day, everything is bathed in the atmosphere of peace, 
which is only intensified by the glimpse of the sleeping Lake St. Sacra- 
ment, which, from the ramparts, may be seen through the sun-smitten 
haze. Here the antiquary may generally meditate undisturbed ; though 
occasionally the silence will be invaded by some solitary visitor like 
himself, or by some noisy troop of young tourists from the hotel, who 
rush suddenly from out the wood, and, with shut sun-shades and um- 
brellas, charge, in mimic war, and with a merry shout, upon the defense- 
less walls of Fort George. But, anon, the enemy retreats, when he 
is left again to dwell at leisure upon his historical notes, to identity the 
localities, and recall the great memories of ambitious England, in con- 
nection with the struggles of proud but dreaming France. Yet, as 
regards the dreams of France, they were not altogether baseless. While, 
in the nature of things, it was hardly possible, under ordinary circum- 
stances, for descendants of the effete Latin race to become the rulers 
of the New World, yet, at one time, French ambition seemed almost 
on the point of realization. And it is, therefore, worth while here to 
remember the fact, that, in connection with Fort George, the movement 



64 



NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 



was begun which was destined to end in the complete demolition of the 
French power in America. And more ; the founding of Fort George 
was the initiatory act in Amherst's campaign, during which the tide of 
French prosperity turned, and the French themselves were driven from 
the beautiful lake to which they originally gave the name. When 
Montressor laid out the plan of the work, he in reality inaugurated the 
Anglo-American success that led the way for the establishment of the 
Great Republic. Therefore, however little we may owe to the strength 
of the structure itself, its connection with American Independence is 
every way deeply interesting. This circumstance alone will justify 
the antiquary in the bestowal of much study upon the history of 
these venerable ruins, which at no distant period are destined to pass 
entirely away. 







APPENDIX. 

I. 

ORDER Lr BOOK OF JAMES McGEb, 

AT FORT GEORGE, JULY AND AUGUST, I776. 

[C0»Y FROM THX ORIGINAL MS. IN THE NEW YORK STATE LIBRARY, 187I.] 



Fort George July I'j'^i'j'jb 
Rigmental orders 

Parole Schylar 
Gaurds to Be Mount«i As Usial officers for tomorow Cap" Martin 
3y order of the Comanding officer Petter B. Tiars Adujant 

Rigmental orders Fort George July the i6'^ 177^ 

Parole Washington 
All officers and Soldiers are forbid to go Among the Small pox and 
]8y no maner Enoculate or Sufer them Selves to Be Enoculated on pain 
to be punishc^ Without the Benifit of A Court Martial Guards to Be 
Mount<i as Usial Officers for tomorow Cap" Wright ^y order of the 
Comanding officer Petter B Tiars Adujant 

Rigmental orders Fort George July i8"^ 1776 

Parole 
A Rigmental Court Martial to Sett Emediately to try Such prisoners 
as may Be Brought Before them. Gaurd to Be Mount<i as Usial officers 
for tomorow Cap" Van ranselar By order of Co^ Ten Eyck 

Petter B Tiars Adujant 
Rigmental order Fort George July the 19 1776 

Parole Ecopus 
The Rigmental Court Martial to Be contin<i to try Such Prisoners 
as may Be Brought Before them Gaurd to Be Mount^ as Usial officers 
for tomorow Cap" Edmerson By order of Col Ten Eyck 

Petter B. Tears Adujant 



66 APPENDIX TO 

yH . INDEX TO NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 

Rigmental orders Fort George July the 20'^^ 1776 

Communications threatened, 31; El^ur at, I McKesson (John), 24. 

Recruits for, 32 ; Surgeon for, 3i;Ag^gt].MPCE;W(IvKqjflKeath of, 36. 




-....ri^nn^c^me %/ 

bchuyrer marches for, 37 ; the fort destroyea,- 
37 J Garrison escapes, 38 ; Called HFort Ed- 
ward," 39 ; Col. Anstruther at, 39^ Wyrf- 



Afolitcatm jtJ 



iunroe 
few, 



Adujc 

id.), Disperses rioters, 20, 45. 
ptures Fort William Henry, 3, 53. 



, Plans Fort George, 4. 



oop'sSft8eui?l3^1eiR^tyie3t,igi9 Cftjyri- Ww"R^§^a' 

ce/nmgi;'^'! nPorR'^fff!^^ tft)Jr5's4?i, <pffic ;ps,fyi(iDamp;-owTdQapfeeMajr,t1ni3Byhb 
onftC Wi«ynTf©fi §3^^^ "^^' '='"'■' 45 ; ^ t^biet^ i3.p£TTER B Tears Adujant 



edi- 

Be 

rder 



the Fort G 



46; Parks (Elijah), 14. 



49; his vindication, 49; an "interPj^ptfyj^g 

5 

5 

ser 

enemy to take possession of Fort George, '5 6 ; 

61; Petitions for land around, 61; Tavern Riedesel (The Baroness), 39; Journal of, 39. 
at, 62: Ferry at, 62 ; the ruins of, 6f;^0 Ljgos^I/Bi^F^X6o 

flectiiGaftPKcfstoOS^iyM^lirlfeJ't^ tJsii 

Garr^D^d^^^f,g8^,6 

Garrison land petitione 



05 verms oj surrenfl^r, SI.5 Prisoners taken, rotts (Noah), 10. 

7^m,%mxM%, ^pW?ffc^p9fi)vi»ot«#(lJJ<i^iak;oJffi!cerso feite<iomc«)v»5Capn 

srV^P^^tResult of invasion, 5^; PMyj^I dfel^lB^f (slgrfj^^^l Ten Evclc 

Rjgimer^.ft'lre^^j^JgAi^^ ^dujant 

rf^ea^fGen.), 39. 



rT^^i Eyck 

Gat^(G0tra^;ly,s(J;^5^^4^y th ^7- 

Gage's Hill, 57. a J J T / / 

levoort (Col. Peter), 53, 65. PaROL i^^MfetogW^f? 7°, 73- 

n MoiMtain Boys, aboijsh the Jaw, 20. Shirtev fGen. William), 3. 

doi^a^'g^nerttal Court Martial tc sBdcaS^ts.Emediately 



expresses, ^ETTER B TeARS Adujant 

Rocque (Mary Ann), Plan of Fort George, 5. 
igaud attacks Fort William Henry, 3. 




Liai{G$t'.)fiS9.Usial officer for 



Jog 



^"'"^SclS'ckScC} H^*"^-.^^^^ % ^^^^^ ""^ *^"' 

Schuyler to^f Sffi^^o^22Tf A^^, 4(i^^^ 
^eatdeiiidjohn), his Memorial, 18. 

'ncorldtroga, 2; Winter expedition against, 3, 
les scaipt-d, 7. PaROLE ?^T^¥tf i^'^'"'''^^ Ticonderoga, 8 ; Delays at, 

Gen, W.), jknighted, 25 flails to im- S, l§ ; in ruins, 18; Reinforced, 20; Plan 

^^£ffvati9agfie3 jv^WfttSr teouaro-v/ tfsr ItldkJ 4oifi£eicuf»!i, 46fliorow Cap" 



Horipeti -Eyck 

Indians (Disfurbjnces with), 9. 

Jessop (Major), 53 S J J 

Jersey Blues scai^i 

Johnsafh(( 

provVm p__, J, „. . 

sMaffttH. By order of Col Ten Eye 

gues (Rev. I.), 2. 



Ka;fi(i|libss0^ je^n6^?6>f^ 7«/y 26'^ I77 3Try> 
Ketchem (Stepnen), Information ot, 30. ' ' Tru 



Knox (his Journal), 4. 
Lake 
Me 
LaJKCJlfPSV, 



Gov.j, 13. 
mbuU (John), 24. 
PAROL^Tfcoh^dribnaf^'an), 16. 

yerjjaont, her negotiations with the British, 

>e^l^et%sm,%-^m the Main Gaurd to- 
1 IVgarhos|St'alis'!EHer'ai-e'f<:6> fake care of 

:jWa#biPiiU)ru(Qsn,.)i.LfLtigr_on^56._ . , 

ters with 



Lit4i*il:fbartis4an(iwr3af?6f*=t>idfie to BW^feh'"a^I^-)bv tKe°ck?npiup 
SE«m,'f/ing" or Col Buel. Ml^^^tEU .TmLw : 

Mhi§m{Qm9,^S.iOl- tomorow Cap" 'VJ%ig(h«son (Sickness of), 26; Letter to Gates, 34. 

"^'^^"r^R^^MWddki D Co// 



row as 



McCracken (Joseph), 55. 



FINIS. 



NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 



67 



R'lgmt orders fort George July 27'-^ '77^ 

A Rigmental Court Martial to Be Set to morow Morning to try Such 
prisoners as may Be Brought Before them Gaurds to Be Mount^ to 
Morow As Usial officer for tomorow Cap" Edmenton 

Petter Gansevoort 

D Coll 
R/gm' Orders Fort George July the 28'-^ 1776 

Parole Gadson 

Gaurds to Be Mount^ as Usial officer for to morow Cap" V" Ran- 
selar Petter Gansevoort D Col 

Rig' Orders July the 29/^, 1 776 

Parole Liberty 
Gaurds to be Moun<i as Usial officer for tomorow Cap" V" Nasa 

Petter Gansevoort D CoU 
Garison Orders fort George 30 July ijlb 

Parole Success 
Every Oficer Station^ At this Garison is order^ to Aply to the Adu- 
jant of CoU V" Shaccks Regm^ for General Schuylers Orders of the 
24th of May Last And As far as it relates to Ether of them they will 
Comply With Said orders if Any officer After this Should Be found 
Neglijent of Complying With Said order I Shall Be O Biige^ to take 
Such Steps As Will Be Very Disagreeabel to Both them and Me the 
officers Not on Duty Are Likewise order^ to Attend the Parade At the 
Beating of the Troop and the retreat they are likewise order<i to turn 
out to Exercise Every Afternoon At 4 oclock With the More Gaurds 
to Be Mount^ tomorow As Usial officers for tomorow Cap" Mercelis 

Petter Gansevoort D Col^ 

Rigtnent^ orders Fort George July 3H' '77^ 

Parole Shuylar 
A corporal and Six privates to fitch A Batteau Load of fire Wood 
for the use of the Generals family Gaurds to be Mounf^ as Usial officer 
for tomorow Cap" Wright Petter Gansevoort D Col 

Garison orders August the l'-^ 1776 

Parole Sandy 
the Court of Enquirery Sat this Day is order"^ to Sett tomorow Gaurds 
to be Mount<i tomorow as Usial officers for tomorow Cap" Martin 

Petter Gansevoort D Col 

Garison orders Fort George August the 2'^ 1776 

Parole McDougal 
A Garison Court Martial to Set tomorow morning at Nine O'clock 



58 APPENDIX TO 

to try Such Prisoners as may be Brout Before them Gaurds to Be 
Mount<i as Usial officer for tomorow Cap" V" Renselar 

Petter Gansevoort 

D Col 
Garison orders Fort George Augm the 3^^ 1776 

Parole Industry 

Gaurds to be Mount<l As usial officer for tomorow Cap" Merceles 

Petter Gansevoort 

D Col 
Garison Orders Fort George August the /^'^ 1776. 

Parole Grant 

Gaurds to Be Mount^ as Usial Officer for tomorow Cap" Martin 

Petter Gansevoort 

D Col" 
Garison crders Fort George August 5"^ 1776 

Parole Coots 
Gaurds to Be Mount^ as Usial officer for tomorow Cap" Edmuston 

Petter Gansevoort D Col* 
Garison Orders Fort George August the 6'^ 

Parole Lewis 
A Garison Court Martial to Be Sett at Eight Oclock tomorow 
Morning to try Such prisoners As may Be Brought Before them Gaurds 
to Be Mounfi as Usial officer for tomorow Cap" V" Nasy 

Petter Gansevoort D Cob 
Garison Orders Fort George August the 7'^ 1776 

Parole McDougal 

Gaurd to Be Mount^ as Usial Officer for tomorow Cap" Merceles 
the Court Martial Sat yesterday is to Continue Seting to Day 

Petter Gansevoort D Cob 
Garison Orders Fort George August 8'* 1776 

Parole Schuylar 
Gaurds to Be Mount<* as Usial officer for to morow Cap" V" Ran- 
selar Petter Gansevoort D Cob 

Garison Orders Fort George August the 9'* 1776 

Parole Froman 
three privates to Be Detach<i from the Main Gaurd to the Corporals 
Gaurd Which is Kept at the General Hospital from Which Place they 
Are to furnish one at the point formerly CalH fort Wilam henry Gaurds 
to Be Mount"! as Usial Officer for tomorow Cap" Edmeston 

Petter Gansevoort D Cob 



NOTES ON THE HISTORT OF FORT GEORGE. 



6q 



Garisott orders Fort George August the lo'^ 

Gaurds to Be Mounts as Usial officer for tomorow Cap" V" Neys 

Petter Gansevoort D Colo 

Parole Tilton 

Garisott orders parole Ten Eyck August \V^ ^11^ 

A Garison Court Martial to Set tomorow Morning to try Such 
prisoners as shall Be Brought Before them Gaurds to Be Mount** as 
Usial officers for to morow Cap"^ Merceles 

Petter Ganesvoort D Col 

Garison Orders Fort George August the 12''^ 1776 

Parole Anderson 
Gaurds to Be Mount** as Usial officer for tomorow Cap" V" Ranselar 

Petter Gansevoort D Co^ 

Garison orders Fort George August the 13''* 1776 

Parole Ranselar 
Gaurds to Be Mount** as Usial officer for tomorow Cap" Edmeston 

Petter Gansevoort D Col* 

Garison orders Fort George August the 14'^ 1776 

Parole Lisbon 
one Sergt and 15 privates to go over the Lake tomorow Morning Gaurd 
to Be Mount** to morow as Usial officer for to morow Cap" V" Neys 

Petter Gansevoort Lt Col 
Garison orders Fort George August 15'^ 

Parole Vn Shaick 
A Garison Court Martial to Sett tomorow Morning to try such 
prisoners as shall Be Brought Before them Gaurds to Be Mount** as 
Usial officer for to morow Cap" Martin 

Petter Gansevoort Lt Col 
Garison Orders Fort George August 16'^ 

Parole 

Gaurds to Be Mount** tomorow as Usial officer for tomorow 
Cap" V" Ranselar Petter Gansevoort Lt Colo 

Garison orders Fort George August i']th 1776 

Parole Philadelphia 
one Sergt and 15 Privates to Embark to morow Morning in three 
Batries to cary Provision over Lake George Gaurds to Be Mount** as 
Usial officer for tomorow Cap" Edmeston 

Petter Gansevoort Lt Col 



70 74 APPENDIX TO NQJMPmbmQ:diISTORr OF FORT GEORGE. 



For twice she crosseiT Lake? George anc 



Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, and tSli^e^Fffrrol^'^m sing when my head is some night more at 

Gaurda'ite; Be Mounts as Usial officer tor ?«ftiorow Cap" Martin , 

Saint Peter's, Saint Francis, and Lake Saint p^'^^eQO^^^|(V fc^u^h, n^^ht^ reader, 
Clair, thrice ; displeaTe,— 



Gariso^^iVih^'Pam^ru^^f'hVFGm^ge 



TJie^nger she 'scaped on those fresh water 
' 4eas,* 
And from the salt Western Ocean, 



J My limbs, too, require locomotion. 



Gaur4sp,^pJ^^3MiOayWg^^Stye§i4kft^q!i6yfenr^<3ienx%«aH6Capn Vn Ran- 
selar Petter Gansevoort 

(From Miscellanies by an Officer [Arent Schuyler De Peyster], Vol. i-jW(^°l]^^-' 



II. 

DE PETSTER'S TOUR TO QUEBEC. 

The days that have left no history are sometimes illustrated by old 
ballads. In connection with the early history of Fort George, we may 
therefore give some lines, of a slightly humorous character, from a now 
scarce volume of " Miscellanies by an Officer," printed at Dumfries, 
Scotland, in 1813. The author of the volume was Colonel Arent 
Schuyler de Peyster, an officer of the British army, who appears to have 
crossed Lake George twice before the outbreak of the American Revo- 
lution. The date of the !W.^5S£3££i^ ^^ P^'^^^^B^}^?^ '" '■^^ accom- 
panying lines cannot, peFtpj^^^ ^ ^^gg ^^^^ ^^^^^^ugh it appears 
to have taken place while tM^^^MjgMMjp'^l^^r George to fire an 
evening gun, since it is not ra^#^^)5pEjMfeg5/pW^nave heard the gun 
from Ticonderoga. ^^ 

The narrative is very eliptical, but, while the story lacks unity, we 
have some glimpses of the condition of things not otherwise afforded. 
The allusion to Vaudrueil is, of course, incorrect, as he had nothing to 
do with the massacres of Bloody Pond. 

At the time Colonel de Peyster crossed the lake, there appears to 
have been no place of entertainment of any sort at the head of the lake, 
as they encamped for the night. At this time the Indians were prowl- 
ing about, and the batteau-men, as they worked their way along, were 
accustomed to sing snatches of French songs. 

The wolves appear to have been in full force, and the grim humor 
Implied in the collection of bones by "Susan," is very likely founded in 
fact. Sabbath- Day Point was the scene of many a bloody transaction, 
and, at that period, abounded in such souvenirs. It is not at all won- 
derful that, amid such scenes, "She" should start in afright at every 
unfamilar sound. 

But we must make a few remarks in regard to the author of the lines 
in question. Valentine's " New York Manual," page 571, says, that 



NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. -j ^ 

Colonel Arent Schuyler de Peyster, son of Colonel de Heer Abraham 
de Peyster, was born in New York, June 27, 1736, and died at Dum- 
fries, Scotland, at the advanced age of about eighty-seven. It is said 
that he was not only "a soldier and diplomatist, for he wielded a vigor- 
ous pen, and even shone in poetry, sufficiently so to merit a poetic 
notice from the celebrated Burns, with whom he broke a lance in 
verse." 

One of Burns' fugitive pieces was addressed to him, beginning: 

" My honor'd Colonel, deep I feel 
Your int'rest in the poet's weal; 
Ah ! how sma' head ha'e I to speel 

The steep Parnassus 
Surrounded thus by bolus pill 

And potion glasses." 

Colonel de Peyster commanded at Michilimackinac, in the North-west, 
from 1774 till 1779. Probably he crossed Lake George on the way to 
his department, in 1774; but it was clearly a visit prior to that which 
he now describes. 

Of the merit of his composition the reader will probably judge ; and 
we need only observe here that, if with Burns he " broke a lance in 
verse," then, " in verse," he has also cruelly *' cracked the legs of 
Time," to say the least. But we give the composition now, with the 
author's notes. 




72 



APPENDIX TO 




jTrom Saratoga to ti)e laiber g>t. JLaiurence, 

ON HER WAY TO QUEBEC. 



The wise and active conquer difficulties, 
By daring to attempt, sloth and folly 
Shiver and shrink at sight of toil a^d hazard, 
And make the impossibility they fear. — Rowe. 



SHE left Saratoga, at dawn of the day, 
And passed bloody pond without fear,* 
(Where the troops of Vaudrcul, with 
dread Indian allies. 
Scalped hundreds of Britons, ta'en there by sur- 
prise). 
And dropt, as she passed it, a tear. 

Encamped at Lake George, as the sun disap- 
peared. 
The bull-frogs in thorough bass croaking, 
Soon brought on a tenor from perched whip- 

her-will,-}- 
The screams of the wood-frogs,J in trebles so 
shrill. 
And buzz of muskettoes provoking. 



On a wind-fallen tree, where I sat by her side, , 

To guard my best treasure from harm, 
She heard the screech owl, from an old blasted ^ ^hey landed, and dragged their batteau up the 
oak. 



The war-whoop of Ihdians, returning from 

war ! 
While the lone evening gun, discharged from 
afar, 
Re-echoed twelve times from the hills. 

When all else was still, at the dead of the 
night, 
A boat, in the moon's wake, she spied; 
In time went the oars, to the strokes-man's 

boat-song, 
When all joined in chorus, and pulled all so 
strong, 
She swift through the water did glide. 
" Papillon vol, il vol, 
Papillon vol, sur L'aviron."^ 
C^rus — " Hotirre galere au fond. 
Ho tiere galere. "11 



Set up a dead cry, at the wood-pecker's stroke, 
Which caused in her some small alarm. 



beach \ 
A fire was soon made for the pot ; 
Each stuck up a forked stick, with bear's meat 

I to roast. 

And then pitched their tents on the musical 
neara ; i coast. 

And what every traveller's blood chills, — | As if to sojourn on the spot. 



* The Indians who surprised the British, being in Canada. 
f Called quack-qua-rie by the Indians. 

I Their noise almost deafens. 

^ There' are two lines of a song set by the strokesman of the boat, to which every rower in 
turn composes as much. 

II A chorus the Canadian boatmen attach to most of their aquatic songs. 



NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 



n 



The guide stove a keg, ready placed on its 
end, 

Before he sat down on his pack. 
To take up his calumet; when, in a trice 
The commis cut every batteau-man a slice 

From a roll of his bourgeois* tabac. 

To them came the warriors, twelve in a canoe, 

Who eyed her ascaunt for a while, 
And but fur the war-pole,-|- 'twas pleasing to 

view 
How they laughed, danced, and sung, as familar 
they grew, 
O'er a cup of dashed yankeyj in style. 

The war-chief invited my help-mate to dance, 

To which she so kindly complied, 
And stept so in time to their hollow-tree 

drum. 
The chief drank her health in a bumper of 
rum. 
While she by the fierce band was eyed. 

This joyous scene changed to a dread thunder- 
storm. 
The rocks, woods, and waves, seemed on 
fire; 
The warriors appalled, did like aspen-leaves 

shake, 
Whose war-chief, alone, could stand near the 
bright lake. 
An emblem of Milton's hell sire.§ 

Encamped the next morning, at Sabbath-day 
Point, 
Miss Susan was quickly embowered. 
While her mistress sat musing upon the moss 

stones ; 
Sue brought her check apron, crammed full of 
dried bones. 
Of a man, whom the wolves had devoured. 

Still not disappointed, her kettle she boiled, 

At the boatmen's already-made fire, 
And put in the tea, when the water was hot. 
As all travellers do, when they've fractured the 
pot, 
Who do such refreshment require. 



While salt pork was boiling, to give the men 
heart, 
And beds were preparing of heather, 
The wolves a most hideous loud barking did 

make. 
In chace of a buck, which soon took to the 
lake. 
Where heedless all plunged in together. 

He crossed, but the pack, with their brushes 
all wet. 
Ran shaking rhem, when we all fired ; 
Thus peppered with buck-shot, they dared not 

to stop, 
Where they might have had each a salted pork 
chop, 
Or man's flesh, by wolves more admired. 

She next passed the block-house for Tycan- 
darougue. 
From whence the last evening-gun fired. 
And heard one from Crown-point, just at set- 
ting sun, 
But as a good day's work the boatmen had 
done. 
They halted that night, being tired. 

From Crown-point a sloop crossed Champlain 
the next night, 
And towed the batteau by a line ; 
Becalmed for a while, we held fast by the trees. 
Where gnats and wild sand-flies poor travellers 
do teaze. 
Or I could have wished the land mine. 

Soon gad-flies and bad flies, of every kind, 

Drew blood, as Saint John's we approached j 
Muskettoe nets there were of little avail. 
For some would have pierced through a hogs- 
head with ale. 
If ale had been blood to have broached. 

The rapids, alarming, were shot to Shamblee ; — 
"Push her off!— Hold her to ! —Let her 

go!"ll 
The lady undaunted, still held up her head, 
While Susan lay down on her face ^ almost dead, 
And falling, drew with her a beau.^ 



* The bourgeois or merchant sends out his commhy or clerk, with charge of his goods up the 
Indian country. 

f Bearing the scalps and dangling thereon. 

J New England rum, much dashed with water. 

§ As Satan is depicted standing, in the frontispiece of an old edition of "Paradise Lost." 

II It being so diflicult, from the impetuosity of the current, to keep the boat from over- 
setting. 

^ A gentleman who was little calculated for such a journey. 



74 



APPENDIX TO NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 



Thus ends the first canto of rapids and lakes, 
For twice she crossed Lakes George and 
Champlain ; 
Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, and Lake Huron, 

twice ; 
:Saint Peter's, Saint Francis, and Lake Saint 
Clair, thrice ; 
Which made no short female's campaign. 



The danger she 'scaped on those fresh water 
seas,* 
And from the salt Western Ocean, 
I'll sing when my head is some night more at 

ease, 
T' intrude now too much might my readers 
displease, — 
My limbs, too, require locomotion. 



* The waves run as high in these lakes as they do in the Atlantic 

(From Miscellanies by an Officer [Arent Schuyler De Peyster], Vol. i., pp. 50-58.) 

Dumfries, 1813. 




I 



IS 



» 



hi 

&( 





^ 



0^ 



^ 



P o 



8 



.•S5 



5 O O a *r . 



03 B 






g'. 



o cS 



•S o ^, J" ^ -s S 



p:, <1 E-i pq p; fL, 



1^ 



iH c* "3" >o ;d t- 00 OS o T^ <» »D ■*■ »o ed ir^ 00 



P5 



i-i 0) e 



g o cu a a -§ 



«J ^ S -a «• -d g 



SSOtu-oSgscda) 
•=;J3ojaiuoS:oo^ 



fc; ,„ M ^Hi HH 



S > W 



-3 'C 

o fe 



So 



O 

gj 03 

S S 

CO C 

!? s ij '5 

p o a; a> 

►:) O O H 



INDEX. 



ABERCROMBIE Attacks Ticonderoga, 
3, 4- 
Allen (Heman), 15, 44. 

Allen (Ethan), a price put on his head, 9; cap- 
tures Ticonderoga, 10 j Letter of,i7; Resigns, 
19 ; " More to be Dreaded than Death," 21 j 
Intriguing, 55. 

Artillery sent to Cambridge, 17. 

Anstruther (Col.), 39, 40. 

Amherst (General Jeffries), moves to Lake 
George, 4. 

Artillery dug up, 6. 

Arnold (Benedict), 14, 18, 46. 

Beardsley (Reminiscences of), 9 

Bailey (Jacob), 60. 

Balcarras (Earl of), 46. 

Boynton, History of West Point quoted, 12. 

Barracks, 25. 

Baldwin, 30. 

Bdllstown, 54. 

Bennington mob, 21. 

Boucherville, 40. 

Burns (Robert), 71. 

Burgoyne (Secret Orders of), 35, 41 ; Surren- 
ders, 43. 

Bourdon (Jean), 2. 

Buell (Lieut.-Col.), 25. 

Blind Rock, 22. 

Bloody Pond (Fight at), 2, 23, 48, 51, 70. 

Brown (Capt. John), 10; Attack on Ticonder- 
oga, 42 ; at Diamond Isle, 42. 

Cannon removed from Ticonderoga, 15. 

Carroll (Charles), 21. 
'Carlton (Major), attacks the Americans, 47, 50. 

Curnes (Major), 29. 

Carroll (^Bishop), 21. 

Capitulation (Articles of), 52. 

Campbell (Major), 7. 

Caswell (Peter), 13. 

Chambeclin (Wyat), 61. 

Champlain, 73. 

Chase (Mr.), 21. 

Chlpman (Capt. John), Commands at Fort 
George, 47 ; his Orders, 47, 48 ; Clinton's 
Aspersions of, 49 ; his Letter to the Press, 
50 ; a Prisoner, 54. 

Clinton (Gov.), 21, 47, 49, 51, 58, 62. 

Connecticut Gazette, 52. 

Cobb (Captain), 32. 



Conspiracy of Vermont and the British, 56. 

Continental Congress, 15. 

Cochran (Col. Robert), his Petition, 62. 

Court Martial, 47, 65, 

Cobb (William), 62. 

Crown Point, I, 2, 73. 

Craig (Capt.), 27. 

Curtenius (Peter T.), 9. 

Dally (Mr.), 20. 

De Lancey (Proclamation of), 8. 

Delaplace (Captain William), 10. 

Defendorf (Henry), 32. 

Deal (Sam.), 9. 

Deane (Barnabas), Letter of, 18. 

De Peyster (Col. Arent Schuyler), 70. 

Diamond Island, Stories of, 41 ; Attack on, 43; 
Captain Aubrey Commands at, 43. 

Dieskau (General), 2, 22. 

Dartmouth (Earl of), 13. 

Doty (Isaac), 61. 

Dyck(C^V.),33. 

Evans (Lewis), Essays, quoted, I. 

Element Hill, 5, 7. 

Eyck (Col. Ten), 65. 

Ferry at Fort George, 62. 

Five Mile Run, 37. 

Fort Edward, 8, 23, 34, 40. 

Fort Gage, 6, 57. 

Fort Ann Abandoned, 37. 

Fort Stanwix, 4. 

Fort Lyman, 2. 

Fort William Henry (Building of), 3. 

Franklin (Benjamin), 21. 

Fort George Planned, 4; Situation of, 5; 
Rocque's plan of, 5 ; Workmen at, 8 ; Work 
ends, 8; Seized by Romans, 10 ; False re- 
ports of, II; Surrendered by Nordberg, 12; 
Capture of, 14 ; Cannon removed to, 15, 17, 
19; called "William Henry," 17, Boats 
Built at, 17; the command at, 19; Exam- 
ined by Engineers, 19; Troops needed, 20; 
Carpenters sent to, 20; Activity at, 21 ; Gen- 
eral Thomas leaves, 21 ; Condition of, 22; 
Schuyler at, 22 ; Graydon at, 22 ; Batteau 
at, 23; Exposed to enemy, 23; Gansevoort 
commander at, 24; Sickness at, 25; Bar- 
racks at, 25; Woedtke dies at, 26; Wilkin- 
son sick at, 26, 27; Alarm at, 29; Dayton's 
regiment ordered to, 29 ; Hides wasted, 29 



78 



INDEX TO NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF FORT GEORGE. 



Communications threatened, 31; Flour at, 
31 ; Recruits for, 32; Surgeon for, 32; g"'^' 
at, 33; Hospital at, 33; Capt. McCrackin 
commands at, 34; Burgoyne's approach, 35} 
Garrison in danger, 36; its condition de- 
scribed, 36 ; Stores removed from, 37 ; 
Schuyler marches for, 37; the fort destroyed, 
37; Garrison escapes, 38; Called "Fort Ed- 
ward," 39; Col. Anstruther at, 39; Wyn- 
coop's fleet at, 39 , " Rebels" at, 39 ; Ried- 
esel maintains communication of, 41 ; Lieut. 
Irwine commands at, 41 ; Secret orders con- 
cerning, 41 ; stores carried from, 41 ; Pris- 
oners taken near, 43 ; the coast clear, 45 ; 
Burgoyne on the Fort George route, 46 ; 
Garrison orders, 47, 48 ; Capt. Chipman 
commands at, 49; Surrendered by Chipman, 
49; his vindication, 49; an "intended fort," 
50 } Terms of surrender, 51 ; Prisoners taken, 
52; Reports concerning, 54; Fort George de- 
serted, 54; Result of invasion, 55; Plans of 
enemy to take possession of Fort George, 56 ; 
Rumored approach of enemy to, 39; its im- 
portance lost, 61 ; not used in war of 18 12, 
61 ; Petitions for land around, 61 ; Tavern 
at, 62; Ferry at, 62; the ruins of, 63; Re- 
flections on, 63 ; Orderly Book kept at, 65. 

Garrison Orders, 47, 48, 65. 

Garrison land petitioned for, 61. 

Gates (General Thos.), 23, 24, 43. 

Gage's Hill, 57. 

Gansevoort (Col. Peter), 53, 65. 

Green Mountain Boys, abolish the law, 20. 

Graydon, 22, 23. 

Half Moon, 20. 

Hamilton (Gen.), 40. 

Haldiman (Gov.), 153. 

Herrick (Samuel), Letter to Gen. Powell, 43. 

Hlnman (Col.), 19. 

Horicon, 3. 

Indians (Disturbances with), 9. 

Islands possessed by the French, 7 ; Fight ar, 7. 

Jessop (Major), 53. 

Jersey Blues scalped, 7. 

Johnson (Gen. W.), knighted, 2; Fails to im- 
prove his advantages, 3 ; Governor of Guern- 
sey, 4, 22. 

Jogues (Rev. I.), 2. 

Kayaderosseras (Patent of), 13 

Ketchem (Stephen), Information of, 30. 

Knox (his Journal), 4. 

Lake George (Route over), i ; Battle of, 2 ; 
Men at, 9; Ferry at, 9, 40, 71, 72. 

Lake St. Sacrament, i; Name of, 2, 61. 

Lincoln (Gen.), 41 , Letter to Yates, 42. 

Livingston (Col.), 50. 

Loudon (Earl of), 3. 

Malcolm (Col.), 50. 

McCracken (Joseph), 55. 



McKesson (John), 24. 

McCrea (Miss), Death of, 36. 

Moses Creek, 35. 

Minott (Samuel), Letter to Clinton, 21. 

Montgomery (Gen.), 21, 

Mott (Capt. Ed.), Disperses rioters, 20, 45. 

Montcalm captures Fort William Henry, 3, 53. 

Munroe (Col.), 3. 

Montrcssor (Col.), Plans Fort George, 4. 

Mount Independence, 33, 43. 

Nordberg (John), his petition, 11 ; Surrenders 

Fort George, 12; Dismissed, 14, 
Parks (Daniel), "Took the key," 13; his 

tablet, 13. 
Parks (Elijah), 14. 
Parks (Ephraim), 14. 
Palmer (Gen.), 42. 
Phelps (Noah), 10. 
Potts (Noah), 10. 

Potts (Dr.), 26; Letters to Gates, 27, 33, 35 
Recluse Island, 4. 
Rensaelear (Gen.), 59. 
Regiments, 28; Commanders of, 28, 31, 
Riedesel (Gen.), 39. 

Riedesel (The Baroness), 39 ; Journal of, 39. 
Ross (Major), 60. 
Romans (Bernard), Takes Fort George), 11 5 

Note on, 11; Goes to Albany, 14; Sends 

expresses, 15. 
Rocque (Mary Ann), Plan of Fort George, 5. 
Rigaud attacks Fort William Henry, 3. 
Sabbath-Day Point, 70, 73. 
Shirley (Gen. William), 3. 
Stockade, 5, 7. 
Sill (Thomas), Killed, 49. 
St. Clair (Gen.), a "great soldier, 35, his 

retreat, 36. 
Sherwood (Capt.), Surrendered Fort Ann, 50, 

53- 
Schaick (Col.), 31, 32. 

Schuyler to Washington, 22, 31, 34, 54, 57. 
Sparden (John), his Memorial, 18. 
Ticonderoga, 2 ; Winter expedition against, 3, 

Amherst attacks Ticonderoga, 8 ; Delays at, 

8, 18 ; in ruins, 18; Reinforced, 20; Plin 

for attack, 42; Evacuated, 44. 
Tryon (Gov.), 8, 13. 
Tiars (Adjutant Peter B.), 65. 
Tryon (Gov.), 13. 
Trumbull (John), 24. 
Trumbull (Jonathan), 16. 
Vermont, her negotiations with the British, 

55 ; Fear of, 60. 
Warner (Samuel), Journal of, 5, 7. 
Washington (Gen.), Letter on, 56. 
Woedtke (Death of), 26. 
Willett (Col.), his success, 60. 
Wilkinson (Sickness of), 26 ; Letterto Gates, 34, 
Williams Dr. Thos.), Letter of, 2 



FINIS. 



LB S '07 



